1st Edition

Liberia's First Civil War A Narrative History

By Edmund Hogan Copyright 2022
344 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

344 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

344 Pages 2 B/W Illustrations
by Routledge

This book provides a comprehensive narrative history of Liberia’s first civil war, from its origins in the 1980s right through the conflict and up to the peace agreement and conclusion of hostilities in 1997. The first Liberian Civil War was one of Africa’s most devastating conflicts, claiming the lives of more than 200,000 Liberians, and sending shockwaves across the world. Drawing on a wide... Read more

PART ONE: PRELUDE   Chapter 1: Remote causes of Liberia’s revolution  Chapter 2: Proximate causes of Liberia’s revolution  PART TWO: THE FALLING OF THE AXE  Chapter 3: Dawn of the revolution – the 1980 coup  Chapter 4: Revolutionary fervour diminishes   Chapter 5: A return to civilian rule  Chapter 6: Economic crisis and increasing international scrutiny   Chapter 7: Popular support for the regime falters but backing from the Reagan Administration continues  PART THREE: THE ADVENT OF CHARLES TAYLOR  Chapter 8: Enemies of the revolution cross into Liberia and liberation from tyranny is proclaimed  Chapter 9: Rebel forces move southwards toward Monrovia and atrocities on both sides multiply  PART FOUR: THE INTERVENTION OF ECOWAS AND KILLING OF PRESIDENT DOE  Chapter 10: Peacekeeping and mediation interventions emerge as the rebel conquest of Monrovia stalls  Chapter 11: The assassination of Liberia’s President and the leader of its revolutionary coup  Chapter 12: Liberia as a two-state entity: The Monrovia enclave rule by an interim government (IGNU) and ‘Greater Liberia’ (capital Gbarnga) ruled by the rebel government (NPRAG)   Chapter 13: The incursion of NPRAG forces into Sierra Leone, and signing of the Yamoussoukro accord  Chapter 14: Large-scale rebel rearming threatens attempts to implement Yamoussoukro   Chapter 15: NPRAG forces commence a 122-day assault on the capital (Operation Octopus)  PART FIVE : THE SLAYING OF THE INNOCENT  Chapter 16: Francophone members of ECOWAS (formerly supportive of NPRAG) and the United Nations (UN) begin to play a more active role in securing a political settlement  Chapter 17: The appointment of a UN Special Representative amidst continuing atrocities  Chapter 18: The increase of ECOWAS and UN commitments in the region  PART SIX: ENDGAME  Chapter 19: Dissention within militias (NPFL and ULIMO) leads to chaotic conditions in Greater Liberia, but Civil Society emerges as a major player  Chapter 20: The Abuja Summit and the increasing role of Nigeria  Chapter 21: The implementation of Abuja II and the election of the  former NPRAG leader as President

Biography

Edmund Hogan is currently Archivist of the Society of African Missions, of which he is a member. He has been a Lecturer for over four decades in universities in Ireland and across Africa, most recently as Professor in Church History and Patrology at Good Shepherd Major Seminary, Kaduna, Nigeria.