1. LIBERIA
Lone Star Rising
Photos by: Christopher Herwig

3. Liberia has come a long way since a has proven its resilience and determination
15,000 strong peacekeeping force was to emerge from conflict and create a lasting
first deployed to the small West African peace.
nation in 2003. The people of Liberia
suffered through 14 years of civil unrest, The capital, Monrovia, was largely destroyed
with more than 250,000 killed. The in the vicious fighting between Government
country’s education and health systems and rebel forces and the looting that
were shattered, and roads and power lines followed. Many rural villagers fled their
destroyed. Hundreds of thousands were homes seeking safety in the capital. The
displaced. In a country that was once the small city is now estimated to have more
model for West African development it was than one million residents, many of whom
almost impossible to escape the effects of live in the crowded slums on the edge of the
one of the most gruesome civil conflicts in St Paul River. With farms abandoned Liberia
recent history. has been importing most of its food for
many years.
Liberia is a small country on the very tip
of the West African coast. With 16 distinct But things are changing. Buildings that were
indigenous ethnic groups and a large riddled with bullet holes are being repaired
population descended from freed slaves and painted; schools and hospitals that
from the USA the population is small but were forced to close are reopening; and the
extremely diverse. It is a population that streets are once again filling with people

4. buying and selling goods. Response Unit has been created to deal
with serious crimes like armed robbery
Farmers are returning to their land and murder. The Armed Forces of Liberia
to grow the crops that can make the are also being rebuilt, a difficult task in a
country self-sufficient, like rice, cassava country where the military has a history of
and vegetables. With an abundance contributing to war.
of resources including iron ore, gold
and diamonds the mining industry “Liberia – Lone Star Rising” is a
is set to become a cornerstone celebration of Liberia five years on from
of the Government’s economic the end of the conflict. It is a glimpse
development policies. Artisanal fishing into the lives of regular Liberians as
is becoming more professional with they work towards long term peace and
fishing communities employing new development. Under the guidance of a
technologies to compete with large democratically elected Government led
foreign-owned boats. by Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the first female
President in Africa, Liberia is heading for a
The Liberian National Police Force, brighter future.
disbanded after the war ended, is being
rebuilt, and will gradually gain credibility - Carly Learson
in the eyes of citizens. A new Emergency

5. Shipping vessel in trouble along an isolated stretch of Grand Bassa’s coast Suburb of Monrovia near Bushrod Island

6. Around Rally Time Market, downtown Monrovia Red Light, Monrovia

7. A remote village in Grand Bassa County

8. Football during the rainy season in central Monrovia Main highway through Bong County

9. Monrovia was the landing point for freed slaves
from the USA in the 1800s. Throughout much of
the 20th century the city was a model for the rest
of Africa, with impressive infrastructure and a port
that exported timber, rubber and minerals. But civil
unrest in the 1980s and 90s had a devastating effect.
The bridge linking the city with the port was
the scene of fighting between Charles Taylor’s
Government forces and LURD rebels, with civilians
caught in the crossfire. With few buildings left
without scars and its roads and infrastructure
destroyed, the city, and its population, has slowly
been recovering.
The markets are thriving, the port is once again
operational, and new businesses are opening.
Monrovia is again becoming a centre for business in
Liberia and the region.

10. Amputee Footballl in Monrovia Liberia 3 Rwanda 2

11. Member of the all female Indian UN Police unit providing security at a football game
Fans celebrate as Liberia takes a shot on net against Rwanda

12. Street barber Unionized wheelbarrow workers

13. Customized wheelbarrows grilling meat for sale
“Saywah - Saywah”
“anything can happen”
“no food for lazy man”

14. Squatter in an abanonded building in Monrovia “No Die No Rest” written on the wall

15. Young man studying by a street light in Monrovia

16. Taxis dodging potholes in central Monrovia Road construction workers, Lofa County

17. Liberia is incredibly rich in resources,
including timber, rubber, iron ore, gold and
diamonds. Development of these resources
will be central to Liberia’s economic
revitalization and development. Small scale
mining is taking place, but workers use
basic equipment – shovels and back hoes.
Many Liberians make their income through
agriculture – growing rice or cassava, or
raising chickens or goats, generally following
traditional methods.
Rubber tapper, Bong County
Swamp fishing, Bong County

18. Atlantic Fisheries Hauling in fishing nets, West Point

19. Rice farming, Margibi County Cassava farm owned by a local women’s collective, Nimba County

20. Diamond dealer, Monrovia
Gold mine, Weajue, Grand Cape Mount County

21. Factional alliances cemented during the
civil war, and a complete breakdown of law
and order destroyed the credibility of the
Liberian Police and Armed Forces. With
the peace agreement and the election of
the new Government, most of the justice
and security sectors were dismantled, and
had to be rebuilt from scratch. Crime is
still prevalent throughout the country, but
the Liberia National Police (LNP) continues
to progress and become stronger. A new
Emergency Response Unit has been trained
to deal with dangerous crime and address
breakdowns in law and order, caused by
unrest or mob violence. While prisons
remain overcrowded, and there are often
long waits for inmates between being
charged and going to court, some credibility
is being restored to the justice system.
A dispute over back pay at ELWA Junction, Monrovia Liberian National Police recruits in training

22. Morning exercises at Liberian National Police training academy An LNP Officer patrols the streets on Old Road, Monrovia

23. Members of the Emergency Response Unit search for weapons and drugs Drug den inside a looted grave in central Monrovia

24. Campaign to combat gender-based violence
A clinic giving support to rape victims

25. Judge Munah C. Sio, Temple of Justice, Monrovia
Inmates at Sanniquellie Prison, Nimba County

26. United Nations Peacekeepers on patrol by land and air

27. President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf addresses supporters at Unity Party Headquarters Women celebrate the anniversary of the election of Africa’s first female President

29. Women in Peacebuilding Program (WIPNET)
‘Daily Talk’ is updated with the latest news

30. Village graffiti

31. After the disruption of the war,
many who fled to Monrovia
are now returning to the
rural villages they left behind.
With more people growing
their own food, the country is
becoming less dependent on
imports.
Sapo National Park is the
largest protected rainforest in
West Africa. However, the rare
species of plants and animals
are being threatened by illegal
mining in the park.

32. Skills training for ex-combatants, Lofa County
Adult literacy class, Nimba County

33. Sapo National Park Chimpanzee

34. Fistula operations at JFK Hospital, Monrovia Roadside herbalist

35. Survey of early childhood development A village elder with some of her 30 grandchildren, Nimba County

36. A baby at St. Francis
Hospital’s maternal
and child health unit in Children in Bong County making gravel
Cestos City

37. Schools have reopened, and a
generation of children who have
never known war are now attending
classes. Enrolment rates have increased
dramatically, but there are still more
boys than girls attending – girls are
often kept at home to work for their
families.
The challenges facing Liberia – poor
roads and other infrastructure, the
tropical climate and widespread
poverty – hit children the hardest.
Students at an Islamic school, Bushrod Island, Monrovia School children eating lunch, Bong County

38. A cultural group performs traditional dancing, Sapo National Park
An abandoned car becomes a rubbish dump, Monrovia

39. Children play amongst a wrecked ship, Point Four Beach, Monrovia
Liberia has emerged from a long, vicious war to become relatively safe and secure. Now the
challenge is to rebuild and develop industries, consolidate gains in law enforcement and justice,
and focus on educating and nurturing the nation’s next generation.
Much progress has been made, but there is still a long way to go before Liberia and its people
reach their potential.

41. www.herwigphoto.com
chris@herwigphoto.com