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

More investors coming to Liberia

Posted on 21 May 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Liberia is not a poor country. It has abundant natural resources: gold, diamonds, iron ore, oil and timber. Its agricultural potential notably includes rubber and palm oil. In the 20th century this small West African country, the size of Ohio, … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Taylor, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberia, Liberian Economy, Liberian History, Samuel Kanyon Doe, William R. Tolbert Jr., William V.S. Tubman | Comments Off on More investors coming to Liberia

Which way, Ivory Coast?

Posted on 12 April 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

  April 12 is a date to remember. Liberians immediately think of April 12 1980: the day Master Sergeant Samuel Doe seized power and the country made a U-turn from which it still has to recover. Ivorians now have their … Continue reading →

Posted in Ivory Coast, Liberia, Nigeria, Samuel Kanyon Doe | Comments Off on Which way, Ivory Coast?

Addition to my March 1 posting on ‘Bullet or ballot propelled changes in Africa’

Posted on 8 March 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

There are over 50 ‘countries’ in ‘Africa’ – the smallest being the Seychelles, population wise, the biggest of course Nigeria – so the fact that I missed two countries in my last posting may be pardoned. Nevertheless, a serious error. … Continue reading →

Posted in Coups in Africa, Elections in Africa, Liberia | Comments Off on Addition to my March 1 posting on ‘Bullet or ballot propelled changes in Africa’

Ballot or bullet propelled changes in Africa in 2011?

Posted on 1 March 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

In January, Tunisia’s President Ben Ali fell and in February Egypt’s President Hosni Mubarak. Will in March the Libyan people oust its leader, Muammar Muhammed al-Gaddafi aka Colonel Gaddafi? Where will Gaddafi go to? To his friend Robert Mugabe in … Continue reading →

Posted in Coups in Africa, Elections in Africa, Liberia | Comments Off on Ballot or bullet propelled changes in Africa in 2011?

The January 25 revolution in Egypt and the hypocricy of Western political leaders

Posted on 11 February 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

After the Jasmine revolution in Tunisia, Pharao country Egypt fell last night. President Hosni Mubarak resigned – most likely because the army refused to fire at the demonstrators occupying Tahrir Square for 18 days in a row. After Tunisia’s Ben … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Revolution, Liberia | Comments Off on The January 25 revolution in Egypt and the hypocricy of Western political leaders

Turmoil in Tunisia

Posted on 17 January 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Freedom! Democracy! Events in Tunisia show that not only Presidents rule in Africa (see my January 4 post) but also people in the streets have a chance to decide on the future of their countries. I was touched by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Arab Revolution, Liberia | Comments Off on Turmoil in Tunisia

2011 Election Year

Posted on 4 January 2011 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

I may provoke you but I am convinced that in all African countries Presidents rule and not Parliaments. This year presidential elections will be held in Liberia and in 17 (!) other African countries, that means in one out of … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections in Africa, Liberia | Comments Off on 2011 Election Year

Liberia and the Ivory Coast Crisis

Posted on 8 December 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

For more than 30 years Ivory Coast was a beacon of prosperity and peace in West Africa (1960 – 1993). The economic miracle that took place in the worlds’ number 1 producer of cocoa attracted millions of migrant workers from … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections in Africa, Ivory Coast, Liberia | Comments Off on Liberia and the Ivory Coast Crisis

Presidential elections in Nigeria and Liberia: the stakes and the contenders

Posted on 21 November 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

The October 1 Abuja bombings and the catch of heavy weapons, artillary rockets and mortars, and ammunition in Lagos in the same month may be related to an international gang of drug traffickers or to Nigerian militants of MEND, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections in Africa, Elections in Liberia, Liberia, Nigeria | Comments Off on Presidential elections in Nigeria and Liberia: the stakes and the contenders

Presidential elections in Nigeria and Liberia: The issues at stake

Posted on 14 November 2010 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Abuja officially became the capital city of Nigeria in 1991, replacing Lagos. It is located in the centre of the country in the Federal Capital Territory. Built in the 1980s and 1990s, it is a planned city, comparable to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Elections in Africa, Elections in Liberia, Liberia, Nigeria | Comments Off on Presidential elections in Nigeria and Liberia: The issues at stake