First Liberian Civil War - Overview

Overview

By the middle of 1990, a civil war was raging. Taylor's NPFL soon controlled much of the country, while Johnson began advancing into the capital, Monrovia. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) attempted to persuade Doe to resign and go into exile, but despite his weak position – besieged in his mansion – he refused. While making a brief trip out of the Executive Mansion to ECOMOG Headquarters, Doe was captured by Johnson on September 9, 1990, and tortured before being killed. The spectacle was videotaped and seen on news reports around the world.

Peace was still far off as both Taylor and Johnson claimed power. ECOMOG declared an Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) with Amos Sawyer as their president, with the broad support of Johnson. Taylor attacked Monrovia in 1992, but ECOMOG reinforced the city and negotiated the Cotonou Agreement, a treaty between the NPFL, IGNU and Doe’s remaining supporters (known as the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy or ULIMO). A coalition government was formed in August 1993.

In September 1994, the Akosombo Agreement attempted to replace the coalition with moves towards a democratic government, but IGNU rejected this. The Abuja Accord of August 1995 finally achieved this, but in April 1996 the NPFL and ULIMO again began fighting in Monrovia, leading to the evacuation of most international Non-governmental organizations and the destruction of much of the city.

Peace agreements signed included the:

• Banjul III Agreement (1990-10-24)

• Bamako Ceasefire Agreement (1990-11-28)

• Banjul IV Agreement (1990-12-21)

• Lomé Agreement (1991-02-13)

• Yamoussoukro IV Peace Agreement (1991-10-30)

• Geneva Agreement 1992 (1992-04-07)

• Cotonou Peace Agreement (1993-07-25)

• Akosombo Peace Agreement (1994-09-12)

• Accra Agreements/Akosombo clarification agreement (1994-12-21)

• Abuja Peace Agreement (1995-08-19)