Author Archives: Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

From the ‘rice riots’ to the Special Court for Sierra Leone

Posted on 13 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Thirty years ago the ‘rice riots’ were the beginning of the end of the Administration of President William Tolbert (1971 – 80). April 14, 1979 – ‘The day Monrovia stood still’, as described by the late Albert Porte, one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Taylor, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Famous Liberians, Liberia, Liberian History | Comments Off

Face to face with Charles Taylor (Part 4)

Posted on 8 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

(continued from April 8) Three high-ranking officers of the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) – Sierra Leone’s rebel movement which terrorized the population of the West African republic from 1991 to 2002 – were sentenced yesterday in Freetown for crimes against … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Taylor, Civil War(s) Liberia, Liberia | Comments Off

Ellen: ‘I supported Taylor…’

Posted on 8 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

(continued from April 7) Though the SCSL’s mandate is clear and very distinct from the Liberian Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC), the two are often related in the case of Taylor’s activities. Three recent testimonies before the TRC are worth … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Taylor, Civil War(s) Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia | Comments Off

Face to face with Charles Taylor (Part 2)

Posted on 7 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

(continued from April 6) It was to be expected that the defence would like to have all charges against former Liberian President Charles Taylor dismissed. His counsel, Mr Morris Anyah, argued in a lenghty submission that took all day (yesterday) … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Taylor, Civil War(s) Liberia, Liberia | Comments Off

The Special Court for Sierra Leone – Face to face with Charles Taylor (Part 1)

Posted on 6 April 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

He was impeccably dressed, wearing a double-breasted suit, a blue-silver tie and shaded, gold-rimmed glasses, each hand decorated with a big golden ring. When former Liberian President Charles Taylor entered the court room at 9:25 A.M. this morning, he cordially … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Taylor, Civil War(s) Liberia, Liberia, Sierra Leone | Comments Off

Turmoil in the region

Posted on 3 March 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Are we witnessing another period of political instability in West Africa? After the August 2008 military coup in Mauritania, overthrowing the democratically elected government of President Sidi Ould Cheick Abdallai, and the military coup in Guinea-Conakry following the death of … Continue reading →

Posted in Guinea Bissau, Guinea Conakry, Liberia, Mauritania | Comments Off

A glimse of Liberia in the 1950s

Posted on 18 January 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

A good friend of mine sent me an interesting link to a 1958 movie of the visit of Prince Bernard of the Netherlands, the Prince Consort of Queen Juliana, to Liberia. The short movie, made for the Dutch National News … Continue reading →

Posted in Liberia, Liberian History | Comments Off

Good news: Debt relief for Liberia

Posted on 11 January 2009 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

>Monday, January 12 Last year Liberia obtained an important debt relief when in March it fullfilled a number of conditions under HIPC which cleared the way for an agreement with the Paris Club. The following month, Paris Club creditors … Continue reading →

Posted in Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia, Liberian Economy | Comments Off

Will Guinea be next? After the death of President Lansana Conteh

Posted on 23 December 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Today the death was announced of President Lansana Conte of Guinea-Conakry. President Conte, 74, died on Monday night after a protracted illness. He had ruled the country with an iron fist since 1984. The news of his death came as … Continue reading →

Posted in Guinea Conakry, Liberia | Comments Off

Liberia: A Visit Through Books

Posted on 15 December 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Two weeks ago I wrote about Matilda Newport – myth or reality, facts and fiction – and another previous post was on three Liberian women, Elma Shaw, Helene Cooper and Diana Taylor, who wrote three remarkable books on Africa’s oldest … Continue reading →