​The First Liberian Civil War (1989–1997) was a devastating conflict that resulted in the deaths of approximately 200,000 people and displaced over a million others. The war was marked by brutal violence, ethnic tensions, and the involvement of multiple factions vying for control. Below is a detailed account of the key events, dates, individuals, and incidents that defined this tragic period in Liberian history.​

Background and Prelude to War

• April 12, 1980: Master Sergeant Samuel Doe led a coup d'état, overthrowing President William R. Tolbert Jr. and ending over a century of Americo-Liberian political dominance. Doe established the People's Redemption Council (PRC) and became the first indigenous leader of Liberia.

  
  

• November 12, 1985: A failed coup attempt was led by Thomas Quiwonkpa, a former ally of Doe. Following the coup's failure, Quiwonkpa was killed, and his body was publicly displayed. This event intensified ethnic tensions, particularly against the Gio and Mano communities, who were suspected of supporting the coup.​

  
  

Outbreak of the Civil War

• December 24, 1989: Charles Taylor, a former government official accused of embezzlement, launched an armed uprising against Doe's government. Taylor's National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL), composed mainly of Gio and Mano fighters, invaded Liberia from Côte d'Ivoire, marking the beginning of the civil war.​

• Mid-1990: As the NPFL advanced, internal divisions emerged. Prince Yormie Johnson, originally a commander within the NPFL, broke away to form the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), leading to further fragmentation of rebel forces.​

  
  

Siege of Monrovia and International Involvement

• July 1990: Both the NPFL and INPFL laid siege to Monrovia, leading to widespread chaos and humanitarian crises. The capital became a battleground, with civilians caught in the crossfire.​

• August 24, 1990: The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) deployed the Economic Community Monitoring Group (ECOMOG), a peacekeeping force led by Nigeria, to intervene and restore order in Liberia.​

  
  

Capture and Execution of Samuel Doe

• September 9, 1990: President Samuel Doe visited the ECOMOG headquarters at the Freeport of Monrovia. During this visit, INPFL forces led by Prince Johnson captured Doe. He was subsequently tortured and executed, an event that was videotaped and widely disseminated.

  
  

Notable Atrocities

• July 29, 1990: The Monrovia Church Massacre occurred when approximately 600 civilians seeking refuge in St. Peter's Lutheran Church were brutally killed by government soldiers loyal to Doe. This massacre is considered one of the worst single atrocities of the civil war.​

  
  

Formation of Rebel Factions

• 1991: The United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO) was formed by former supporters of Doe and exiled Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) soldiers. ULIMO later split into two factions in 1994: ULIMO-J, led by Roosevelt Johnson, and ULIMO-K, led by Alhaji G.V. Kromah.​

  
  

Peace Efforts and Continued Conflict

• 1993: ECOWAS brokered the Cotonou Peace Agreement, leading to the establishment of the United Nations Observer Mission in Liberia (UNOMIL) to support ECOMOG in implementing the peace process. Despite these efforts, fighting persisted.​

• September 15, 1994: A coup attempt was led by General Charles Julu against the Liberian National Transitional Government (LNTG). The coup was swiftly suppressed by ECOMOG forces, and Julu was arrested.​

• August 1995: The Abuja Accord was signed, involving key warlords including Charles Taylor, George Boley, and Alhaji Kromah. This agreement aimed to establish a transitional government and set the stage for eventual elections.​

  
  

Resurgence of Violence and Final Peace

• April 1996: Heavy fighting erupted in Monrovia, leading to significant destruction and displacement. ECOMOG forces intervened to restore order.​

• August 1996: Following renewed peace efforts, disarmament and demobilization processes were initiated, leading to a relative calm in the country.

  
  

Elections and Aftermath

• July 19, 1997: Elections were held, resulting in Charles Taylor winning the presidency with a significant majority. Many Liberians voted for Taylor, hoping that his leadership would bring an end to the violence.​

  
  

• August 2, 1997: Taylor was inaugurated as President of Liberia, marking the official end of the First Liberian Civil War.​

  
  

Key Figures

• Samuel Doe: Leader of the 1980 coup and President until his death in 1990. His tenure was marked by ethnic favoritism and authoritarian rule.​

  
  

• Charles Taylor: Former government official turned rebel leader of the NPFL. He became President in 1997 after winning the post-war elections.​

  
  

• Prince Yormie Johnson: Initially a commander within the NPFL, he formed the INPFL and was responsible for the capture and execution of Doe. He later entered politics and served as a senator until his death in 2024.

  
  

• Amos Sawyer: Appointed as the head of the Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) in 1990, attempting to restore governance amidst the chaos.​

  
  

Humanitarian Impact

The war had a catastrophic impact on Liberia's population and infrastructure:​

• Casualties: An estimated 200,000 people lost their lives during the conflict.​

  
  

• Displacement: Over a million Liberians were displaced internally or became refugees in neighboring countries.​

  
  

• Child Soldiers: Both rebel and government forces extensively recruited and used child soldiers, leading to long-term psychological and social consequences.​

  
  

References

• [First Liberian Civil War - Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/First_Liberian_Civil