Yearbook 2007
Liberia. After many difficult years, the tormented
Liberia hoped for a better future. Sales of diamonds could
be resumed after the UN Security Council lifted the export
ban. It was introduced to prevent diamond sales from funding
warfare in Liberia and neighboring Sierra Leone. The world's
largest steelmaker, Arcelor Mittal, decided to invest one
billion US dollars in a new iron mine. The project also
includes the construction of a new railway and the
renovation of ports.
According to
CountryAAH, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) made an optimistic
assessment of Liberia's economic outlook and predicted
annual growth of about 11 percent over the next five years.
After the United States and Germany pledged to repay
Liberia's total debts to them of more than $ 600 million,
the IMF agreed on a debt write-off program to enable Liberia
to obtain new loans and be able to access new multilateral
assistance.
In September, the UN Security Council decided to extend
the mandate of the UNMIL peacekeeping force by one year but
to reduce the number of soldiers and police. Liberia is
stabilizing, but quite quiet is not the country. Crime is
widespread due to high unemployment, not least among former
militia soldiers. A message about a failed coup attempt
against President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf shocked the nation
in July. Five people, including a former army chief and a
former parliamentarian, were charged with treason.
Gyude Bryant, head of the Transitional Government
2003-06, was indicted for embezzlement of more than one
million US dollars. A court found that he, as appointed head
of state, not elected, did not have the right to legal
immunity.
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