A country of western Africa on the Atlantic Ocean. It was founded (1821) through the efforts of the American Colonization Society and settled mainly by freed slaves from 1822 to the 1860s. Liberia is the oldest independent country in Africa (established 1847). A military coup in 1980 initiated a period of despotic government and civil unrest leading to full-scale civil war in 1990. A cease-fire agreement was reached in 1996, and elections were held in 1997. Monrovia is the capital and the largest city. Population: 3,200,000.
Li·be'ri·an adj. & n.
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