Monrovia

Monrovia, city in western Liberia, capital of the country, in the Federal District, on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the St Paul River. Situated on Bushrod Island and Cape Mesurado, it is the country's chief port and commercial centre. It has extensive docks and is served by nearby Roberts International Airport. Cement, fish processing, paint, petroleum, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries have developed. Iron ore and rubber are major exports; the city also receives substantial quantities of imports that are destined for neighbouring countries. Architecture in Monrovia reflects the city’s contemporary economic development, with large office buildings standing alongside tin-roofed shanties. The University of Liberia (1862), Cuttington University College (1889), and a college of technology (1978) are located there.

Monrovia was founded in 1822 by freed African-American slaves with sponsorship from the United States-based American Colonization Society, and was named in honour of United States President James Monroe. Large numbers of former slaves were resettled there in the 19th century. Today, however, American-Liberians are a minority in the population of Liberia, which is made up of many indigenous African ethnic groups, although the descendants of freed slaves are influential in the political and cultural life of Monrovia.

In the early 1990s, Monrovia was the scene of widespread looting and violence in the aftermath of the assassination of Liberian leader Samuel K. Doe, and suffered severe damage throughout the decade due to the country’s civil war. A state of emergency was declared throughout Liberia in February 2002 following a renewed increase in rebel activity. President Charles Taylor lifted the state of emergency seven months later, announcing that the rebels had been defeated. However, by March 2003 the conflict had intensified once more with two rebel groups—Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL)—advancing on Monrovia and continuing their efforts to gain control of the city. Following a period of intense fighting that claimed the lives of hundreds of people in the city, a ceasefire was declared in June, although the attacks and unrest continued. In August soldiers from ECOMOG, a Nigerian-led peacekeeping force, were deployed to the city. Population 550,200 (2003 estimate).