“I have determined that the situation that gave rise to this national emergency has been significantly altered by Liberia’s advances to promote democracy and the orderly development of its political, administrative and economic institutions”, Obama wrote in his memo to congressional leaders.
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Citing its strides toward democracy, President Barack Obama on Thursday lifted economic sanctions against Liberia that had been in place for more than a decade.
Acknowledging Liberia has overcome not only “the scars of war”, but also many challenges, yet “much remains to be done”, including security transformation and the 2017 presidential election, according to the statement.
The 2004 executive order activating sanctions was a response to former Liberian President Charles Taylor’s actions, deemed a national security threat to the USA and its interests. Bush also said Liberia was involved in arms trafficking and illegally lumber sales that were financing wars throughout West Africa.
The Liberian government will assume security of the country from a United Nations mission in 2016 ahead of presidential elections in 2017.
“Liberia and its people are up to these challenges”, said Price.
Taylor was also known for his instrumental role in the Liberian civil war that lasted from 1989 to 2003, and left almost a quarter of a million people dead.
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In 2012, Taylor became the first head of state since World War II to be convicted of war crimes after an global court convicted him of aiding Sierra Leone rebels, who used child soldiers in a campaign of campaign of murder, rape and torture.
