Part 10/14:
The international community, chiefly through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), attempted peacekeeping efforts, but the chaos persisted. The brutal assassination of Samuel Doe in 1990, the chaos of multiple factions vying for power, and the widespread suffering underscored Liberia’s profound political disintegration.
Slow Path Toward Peace and the Presidency of Charles Taylor
In 1997, as the war continued, Liberia’s battered populace elected Charles Taylor. Many voted for him out of desperation, solely to end violence, with the infamous slogan: “He killed my ma, he killed my paw, but I’ll vote for him.” Taylor’s rule quickly descended into dictatorship, with suppression of opposition and continued economic hardship.