Liberia
Fourteen years of war ended in 2003 - devastated by years of conflict, young Liberians are now starting to learn what life is like in peacetime
Former President Charles Taylor left Liberia in 2003 in the midst of a crisis. Since then UN peacekeepers have been deployed across the country, co-ordinating a national Disarmament, Demobilisation and Reintegration programme.
The war displaced one million people and left 200,000 dead, while 80 per cent of people live below the poverty line, and the country is heavily dependent on foreign aid.
In November 2005, presidential elections brought to power Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Africa's first elected woman head of state.
CAFOD supports two partners in Liberia, both of which were present throughout the conflict era, and are now focused on post-conflict rehabilitation, particularly for young people.
![]() Fervent hopes built on a fragile peace The election of Africa’s first female president promises a healthier democratic future for conflict-ravaged Liberia, but she has a hard job ahead in winning the people over. |
![]() The politics of keeping the peace In Liberia, a peace deal struck in 2003 has lasted, and a general election is about to go ahead. But fresh outbreaks of violence are a reminder that rebuilding society is a fragile process |


![Refugees gather at a makeshift camp near Kibati, 12 km north of the provincial capital of Goma, October 29, 2008 [REUTERS/Stringer, courtesy www.alertnet.org]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/dr-congo/images/refugees-who-fled-fighting/934156-2-eng-GB/refugees-who-fled-fighting_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)

![More than 700 campaigners rallied before delivering anti-poverty messages to every EU embassy in London [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/media_folder/cafod/images/campaign_images/trade_justice_campaign_images/embassy_bus/199633-2-eng-GB/embassy_bus_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![Fatna (right) brings home wood that she and some neighbours have harvested from outside the camp in Kubum, south Darfur [Paul Jeffery/ACT/Caritas]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/sudan/images/fatna-right-brings-home-wood/247664-2-eng-GB/fatna-right-brings-home-wood_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)
![Niccollette and Shrirvanie film the aftermath of the Guyanan floods, with support from CAFOD partner Guyana Human Rights Association [CAFOD]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/what-we-do/communications/images/after-guyana-floods/679742-1-eng-GB/after-guyana-floods_0column50_04space_landscape.jpg)


![Children served in the Liberian militias [Hillary Norris]](/var/storage/images/where_we_work/africa/liberia/images/liberian_army_including_children/4257-2-eng-GB/liberian_army_including_children_medium.jpg)
![The Millennium Stars football team helps rehabilitate young people - including ex-child soldiers - affected by civil war in Liberia [Martin Lueders]](/var/storage/images/about-cafod/where-we-work/liberia/images/millennium-stars-football-team/4222-2-eng-GB/millennium-stars-football-team_1column00_08space_landscape.jpg)
![Children served in the Liberian militias [Hillary Norris]](/var/storage/images/where_we_work/africa/liberia/images/liberian_army_including_children/4257-2-eng-GB/liberian_army_including_children_1column00_08space_landscape.jpg)

