Africa

Liberia

Liberia’s economy is primarily agricultural, but the country is also richly endowed with mineral resources and forest products.  A civil war between 1989 and 1996 devastated much of the economy, particularly in and around Monrovia.  The fighting also contributed to the deaths of over 150,000 Liberians and the displacement of well over one million, as many fled to neighboring countries as refugees. Seven years of civil strife drove many businessmen to leave the country and led to the cancellation of educational and vocational training programs, which had been implemented earlier to encourage the development of additional economic sectors.  Today, 80 percent of the people in Liberia live below the poverty line, and the unemployment rate is at 70 percent.

Time is of the essence to establish a Christian witness to the people of Liberia, as they suffer through economic hardship and face the challenge of rebuilding their war-torn country.