Liberia: Political System
According to CANCERMATTERS.NET, Liberia is a presidential republic. The bicameral parliament consists of the House of Representatives with 64 members elected every six years and the Senate with 26 members elected every nine years. The direct election of the president, who also functions as head of state, head of government and commander in chief of the armed forces, takes place every six years. See AbbreviationFinder for more information about Liberia politics, and acronyms as well. The official name of the country is:
| Republic of Liberia |
National anthem
“All Hail, Liberia, Hail!” was declared the national anthem of Liberia in 1847. The text is by Daniel Bashiel Warner, the music for it was composed by Olmstead Luca in 1860.
| In English | In German |
| All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!)All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!)
This glorious land of liberty Shall long prevail.Though new her name, Green be her fame, And mighty be her powers, And mighty be her powers. In joy and gladness With our hearts united, We’ll shout the freedom Of a race benighted, Long live Liberia, happy land!A home of glorious liberty, By God’s command! A home of glorious liberty, By God’s command!All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!) All hail, Liberia, hail! (All hail!) In union strong success is sure.We cannot fail! With God above Our rights to prove, We will o’er all prevail, We will o’er all prevail!With heart and hand our country’s cause defending, We’ll meet the foe with valor unpretending. Long live Liberia, happy land! A home of glorious liberty, By God’s command! A home of glorious liberty, By God’s command! |
Greetings, Liberia, greetings!Greetings, Liberia, greetings! May
this glorious land of freedom endure long.By her new name, fruitful be her glory, and mighty be her powers, and mighty be her powers, united in joy and happiness with our hearts , we proclaim the freedom of a darkened race, long live Liberia, happy land!A home of great freedom, from God’s direction! A home of great freedom, from God’s direction!Greetings, Liberia, greetings! Greetings, Liberia, greetings! Success is granted in strong unity.We cannot fail! To prove our rights over us with God, we will always win, we will always win!Defending our country with heart and hands , we face madness with humble bravery. Long live Liberia, happy country! A home of great freedom, from God’s direction! A home of great freedom, from God’s direction! |
National flag
The national flag (country flag) of Liberia was introduced on July 26, 1847. It is worth mentioning that over 1,600 ships fly the flag of convenience. The revenue for the registration of these ships forms an important part of the Liberian state budget. As can be seen in the illustration, the flag consists of six red and five white horizontal stripes, which symbolize the eleven signatories of the Liberian declaration of independence. In the upper left corner there is a blue field with a five-pointed white star. Based on flag descriptions by Countryaah.com, the white star represents the regained freedom of the former slaves and the blue square documents that when the state of Liberia was founded, only one independent nation existed in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Check top-mba-universities for public holidays, sports events, UNESCO world heritage sites and major places to visit in Liberia.
Liberia: People you know
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf (born 1938)
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was surprisingly elected the country’s first female president on January 16, 2006. This made Liberia the first country in Africa to have a democratically elected president. This is all the more remarkable as Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf was able to prevail against ex-soccer star George Weah in 2005. Great hopes are placed in them. A 14-year civil war almost completely destroyed the country’s infrastructure. In addition, around 100,000 civil war fighters have to be integrated into society.
In 2011, she and her compatriot Leymah Gbowee and Jeminitein Tawakkul Karman received the Nobel Peace Prize 2011 for their non-violent struggle for the security of women and for the right of women to fully participate in peace-building work.
Leymah Gbowee (born 1972)
In 2011, she and her compatriot Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and the Jeminitein Tawakkul Karman received the Nobel Peace Prize 2011 for their nonviolent struggle for the security of women and for the right of women to participate fully in peace-making To participate in work
Harrison Kennedy (born 1989)
The Liberian footballer, born in Monrovia in 1989, plays primarily as a striker. Kennedy, who is also an Austrian citizen, is currently playing for FC Pasching in the Austrian Central Regionalliga.
Clarence Kparghai (born 1985)
The Swiss-Liberian ice hockey player has been under contract with EHC Biel in the National League A since 2008.
Harry Fumba Moniba (1937-2004)
Harry Fumba Moniba served as Vice President of Liberia from 1986 to 1990 under Samuel Doe. After Doe was deposed in 1990, Moniba fled, but was re-deployed after the Liberian Civil War in 1997. But he couldn’t get more than seventh place.
Zizi Roberts (born 1979)
Zizi Roberts, a Liberian soccer player who has been without a club since 2004, also plays for his country’s national team. There he has the position as a striker.
Wilton GS Sankawulo ( 1937-2009)
After the politician and writer Sankawulo was active as a professor of literature and English at the University of Liberia and Cuttington University College, he was Chairman of the Council of State of Liberia from 1995 to 1996. With this title he was the de facto head of his country. As a politician, the respected writer did not succeed in stabilizing Liberia in times of unrest.
Charles Taylor (born 1948)
Charles Taylor was a notorious warlord during the Civil Wars of the 1990s. He was president of the country from August 2, 1997 until his fall on August 11, 2003. He then left Liberia and was arrested on March 29, 2006 on the border between Nigeria and Cameroon and taken to Sierra Leone. From exile in Sierra Leone he was transferred to the International Criminal Court in The Hague on June 20, 2006. The trial against him was officially opened on July 4, 2007. He was found guilty on April 26, 2012 and sentenced to 50 years in prison on May 30, 2012. He is serving his sentence in the United Kingdom (UK).
Jewel Cianeh Howard Taylor (born 1963)
The former wife of President Charles Taylor was elected to the Liberian Senate of Bong County in 2005. She is a member of the National Patriotic Party and chairs the Senate Health and Social Welfare Committee on Gender, Women and Children.
William Richard Tolbert, Jr. (1913-1980)
Tolbert, born in Bentol in 1913, not only served as President of Liberia (1971-1980), but was also President of the Baptist World Federation from 1965 to 1970 and therefore held the highest ecclesiastical office of Baptists. After Tolbert was able to implement a few liberal reforms at the beginning of his presidency, the economic differences between the Ameriko-Liberians and the local people gradually intensified. In 1979 there was a demonstration in Monrovia, which Tolbert brutally ended. The result was violent unrest that he could no longer control. In 1980 he was killed as a result of a successful coup by Samuel K. Doe.
George Weah (born 1966)
George Weah was born on October 1, 1966 in Monrovia. Footballer George Weah was named Player of the Year in Europe, Africa and FIFA in 1995. In 1998 he was named the best African soccer player of the century. He had his greatest successes during the 1990s in Europe at AS Monaco, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan. “King George” donated millions of his private fortune to support the Liberian national team in the hope of reuniting the country through football. In addition, he founded several African charities, is an umbrella holder of UNICEF and an ambassador for an SOS Children’s Village in South Africa. He became president of the country on January 22, 2018.
Liberia: animals
General preliminary remark
The cruel civil war between 1989 and 2003 not only cost many people their lives, but also wiped out numerous animals. It was often hunted as a source of food by the starved people, but unfortunately often also shot by the marauding gangs out of sheer desire to kill.
The stocks are only gradually beginning to recover.
Mammals
The following mammals live in the country, with the linked animals being presented in detail at Goruma:
Monkeys
These include Diana monkeys, red colobus monkeys, chimpanzees, whitebeard colobus monkeys and West African colobus monkeys.
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Big
cane rats The big cane rat (Thryonomys swinderianus) belongs to the family of cane rats (Thryonomyidae) in the subordination of the porcupine relatives (Hystricomorpha). The animals are therefore – despite their name – not related to the rats. The animals reach a head-trunk length between 35 to 60 cm with a tail up to 25 cm long. The fur of the animals is very hard and has a brownish color with yellow and gray areas. The chin, the underside of the neck and the belly are whitish.
The animals feed mainly on grain, grass, nuts, tree bark and fruits. They can be found in open grasslands near swamps or the banks of rivers and lakes, but also on agricultural areas such as corn fields and sugar cane plantations. To the annoyance of the farmers, they cause considerable damage there. The animals are hunted for their meat.
Leopards
Liberia mongooses
The Liberia mongooses (Liberiictis kuhni) belong to the genus Liberiictis in the family of the mongooses (Herpestidae). The mongoose family includes, for example, the meerkats and mongoose. The animals Liberia mongoose reach a head-trunk length between 40 and 48 cm with a weight between 2 and 3 kg. Their tail can be about 20 cm long. Their fur is predominantly colored dark brown. On the neck they have a dark stripe flanked by two light stripes, while their throats are light. The dark feet have grave claws. The head is elongated with a pointed snout.
Your food consists of your food from large worms, earth burrows (sneaking amphibians) and insect larvae as well as fruits. But also smaller vertebrates are on their menu. The Liberian mongoose can be found in the northeast of Liberia as well as in the adjacent areas of the Ivory Coast. Possibly in Guinea too. The diurnal animals live in dense forests, mostly near rivers.
Pangolins
Pangolins are a genus in the family of the pangolin (Manidae), which consists of a total of eight different species. Four of them can be found in Africa and another four in Asia. The animals can be found in savannahs, forests or in bushland. They mostly move with the help of their hind legs, while they mostly use the front legs for climbing and digging. In Liberia, for example, you can find the white-bellied pangolin (Phataginus tricuspis). The animals reach a head-trunk length of 35 to 45 cm with a tail of 35 to 60 cm. The animals feed mainly on termites, more rarely on ants.
Giant
Forest Pigs The Giant Forest Pig (Hylochoerus meinertzhageni) belongs to the genus Hylochoerus in the family of real pigs (Suidae). Of the three subspecies, the Western Giant Forest Pig can be found in Liberia. The animals reach a head trunk length of 140 to 210 cm and a shoulder height of 75 to 110 cm. Their weight varies between and a weight of 150 to 260 kg. The long and rough fur of the animals is dark brown to black and can fall out with age.
Auffallend ist der große Kopf mit dem großen Rüssel und den ausgeprägten Backenwülsten. Die Eckzähne sind kräftig, aber kürzer als beispielsweise beim Warzenschwein. Ihre Nahrung besteht fast ausschließlich aus Pflanzen. Im Gegensatz zu anderen Schweinen wühlen sie nicht in der Erde nach Essbarem. Die Tiere leben in Gruppen, die sich meist aus einem Männchen, sowie einem bis vier Weibchen und den Nachkommen aus mehreren Generationen zusammensetzen.
Porcupines
The porcupines (Hystricidae) are a family of rodents, of which there are a total of 11 different species. The spines on the back and tail developed from hair. The size of the animals is strongly dependent on the respective species, so the smallest species – the brush spike (Trichys fasciculata), the African tassel spike (Atherurus africanus) and the Asian tassel spike (Atherurus macrourus) have a length of at most 50 cm, with a weight from about 1.5 to 2 kg. In contrast, the South African porcupine (Hystrix africaeaustralis) reaches a head-trunk length between 65 and 85 cm.
The West African porcupine (Hystrix cristata) occurs in Liberia. It reaches a head-trunk length of 55 to 70 cm – rarely more. Roots, tubers and onions, the fruits of bushes and tree fruits lying on the ground, but also herbs and tree bark serve as food. Among the animal food are insects, frogs and other small animals and even the bones of fresh carrion. In the south of the country you can also find the African tassel spike (Atherurus africanus)
Forest buffalo
The forest buffalo (Syncerus nanus), also known as red buffalo, belongs to the genus of the African buffalo (Syncerus) in the tribe of cattle (Bovini) in the family of the horned buffalo (Bovidae). The animals reach a head-trunk length of 180 to 220 cm and a shoulder height between 100 to 125 cm. Their tail can be up to 90 cm long. The weight of the animals varies between 270 and 320 kg. This makes them the smallest representatives of the African buffalo (Syncerus). Their horn length is between 35 and 70 cm. The color of their fur ranges from reddish to brownish, with black markings on the legs and shoulders. Every now and then completely black animals can be observed. The animals prefer the tropical rainforests of the lowlands. The animals are pure herbivores.
Forest elephants
Wild or forest cats
Zebra duiker
The zebra duiker (Cephalophus zebra) is a relatively small forest antelope from the tribe of Ducker (Cephalophini) in the family of Bovidae (Bovidae). The animals reach a head-trunk length of 70 to 90 cm, with a shoulder height of about 40 to 50 cm. Their tail is relatively short with a length of 10 to 15 cm. Their horns, which both males and females have, are short. Their fur is colored brown-orange. It is named after the black zebra-like pattern, which consists of twelve to fifteen stripes and extends vertically from the back down the flanks. The underside can be white to almost black. The diurnal animals are pure herbivores and live well hidden in the dense bushes of primary forests with a closed canopy of leaves.
Zebra
mongoose The zebra mongoose (Mungos mungo) belongs to the genus of the mongoose in the family of the mongooses (Herpestidae) and the order of the carnivores (Carnivora)
Pygmy hippopotamuses
The endangered pygmy hippos can essentially only be found in the Sapo National Park of Liberia – with the exception of a few animals in the Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Guinea. The pygmy hippopotamus (Choeropsis liberiensis) is one of the two species of the hippopotamus family (Hippopotamidae) alongside the (large) hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius).
The species name liberiensis indicates its occurrence in Liberia. The animals have a head-trunk length between 150 and 175 cm, with a shoulder height between 75 and 80 cm and a weight of 245 to 275 kg. The color of their skin ranges from black-greenish to black-brownish. The animals are usually found in damp to swampy jungle thickets. The crepuscular animals go ashore to look for food, where they only look for vegetable food. They mate both in the water and on land. After a gestation period of around 190 to 210 days, the female usually gives birth to a calf either in the water or on land
Reptiles
African house snake
The African house snake (Boaedon fuliginosus) – also known as the brown house snake – is a non-toxic and between 120 to 150 cm long snake.
African spitting cobra (Naja nigricollis)
Boomslang (Dipholidus typus)
West African short-
snouted tree snake The West African short-snouted tree snake (Dipsadoboa brevirostris) belongs to the snake family (Colubridae) and is a non-poisonous snake between 85 and 110 cm long.
Dipsadoboa underwoodi
Dipsadoboa underwoodi is a non-toxic and between 50 to 65 cm long snake from the family of the adder family (Colubridae)
Rock python (Python sebae)
Striped house snake
The striped house snake (Boaedon lineatus) is a non-poisonous snake with a length of m
Gaboon viper (Bitis rhinoceros)
Green mamba (Dendroaspis viridis)
Günther’s Green Tree
Snake The Günther’s Green Tree Snake (Dipsadoboa unicolor) is a non-poisonous snake
with a length of about m
Hallowell’s house snake
The Hallowell’s house snake (Boaedon virgatus) is a non-poisonous snake with a length of about m
Laurent’s Green Tree
Snake Laurent’s Green Tree Snake (Dipsadoboa viridis) is a non-toxic snake with a length of about m
Rhinoceros viper (Bitis nasicornis)
Olive house snake
The olive house snake (Boaedon olivaceus) is a non-poisonous snake with a length of about m
Black and white cobra (Naja melanoleuca)
Nile crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)
Armored crocodile (Mecistops cataphractus)
Common crocodile (Osteolaemus tetraspis)
Liberia: plants
About a third of Liberia is covered by rainforest, making it the largest forest area in West Africa. These rainforest areas from primary, ancient jungle are mainly located in the middle and east of the country. This is also where the Sapo National Park is located. The Nimba Mountains extend to the north and northeast. The highest mountain is Mont Richard-Molard with a height of 1,752 m. It is on the border between Ivory Coast and Guinea. It is approx. 9.5 km away from Liberia.
So far, 2,200 plant species have been identified in Liberia.
Mangroves and marsh plants can be found on the coast and near the coast. Moist savannahs extend over some areas in the north of the country, here you can find elephant grass up to 5 m high. Gallery forests grow on the river banks.
About 50 km from Monrovia are the Firestone rubber plantations, which were established in 1926 as the world’s first rubber plantations.
