Category Archives: Sierra Leone

Annual Message on the State of the Republic – Jan. 26, 2015

Posted on 8 February 2015 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

ANNUAL MESSAGE ON THE STATE OF THE REPUBLIC To the Fourth Session of the 53rd National Legislature of the Republic of Liberia, Consolidating For Continuity By: Her Excellency Ellen Johnson Sirleaf President of the Republic of Liberia (As Delivered) Mr. … Continue reading →

Posted in . Jabaru Carlon, 2015 Annual Message, agriculture, Amos Sawyer, Ban Ki-Moon, Benin, Bismarck Kuyon, Charles Gyude Bryant, civil society organizations, Corruption, diamonds, Ebola, ECOWAS, education, elections, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, FDI, forestry, gender, Ghana, girls, gold, Goodluck Jonathan, governance, Governance Commission, Guinea Conakry, health, Health Sector, human resources, Human Rights, IGNU, infrastructure, iron ore, Jim Yong Kim, Liberia, Liberia Education, Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), Liberian Economy, Liberianization, Mali, Margaret Chan, Mount Coffee Hydroelectric plant, natural resources, Niger, Nigeria, Nkosanzana Dlamini Zuma, NOCAL, Official Development Assistance (ODA), oil, Palava Hut, peace, press freedom, public debt, public expenditures, public revenues, public sector, Public Sector Investment Plan (PSIP), Reconciliation, rubber, Sierra Leone, UNMEER, UNMIL, Vision 2030, Willis D. Knuckles -, youth | Leave a comment

Ebola in Liberia: More than a Health Crisis

Posted on 14 September 2014 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

It all started with two Ebola cases in Foya, Lofa County. It was on March 17 of this year that the Ebola virus entered Liberia from Guinea. The reaction of the government of Liberia on the arrival of the virus was … Continue reading →

Posted in 2013/2014 National Budget, Amos Sawyer, April 12 1980, Corruption, curfew, Debt relief, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Doctors without Borders, Ebola, Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, FDI, Foya, Governance Commission, Guinea Conakry, Health Sector, Liberia, Liberian Diaspora, Liberian Economy, Lofa County, Médicins sans Frontières (MSF), Monrovia, Samuel Kanyon Doe, Shacki Kamara, Sierra Leone, State of Emergency, Sudan, Uganda, United Nations (UN), US - Africa Leaders Summit, West Point, Westpoint | Leave a comment

The Dutch photographer and anthropologist Paul Julien in Liberia, 1932

Posted on 16 June 2014 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

The Dutch Paul Julien (1901-2001) had a PhD in Chemistry and worked as a chemistry teacher in the Netherlands. He frequently travelled to Africa, walked through the forests of West and Central Africa and did anthropological work and research. Between 1926 … Continue reading →

Posted in Andrea Stultiens, Campfires along the equator, Graham Greene, Journey without Maps, Kampvuren langs de evenaar, Liberian History, Monrovia, Paul Julien, Sierra Leone | Leave a comment

Will Charles Taylor end up being Africa’s only former president convicted of war crimes?

Posted on 29 September 2013 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Yes, September 26, 2013 was a historic day. On that day the Appeals Chamber of the Special Court for Sierra Leone (SCSL) rendered its verdict in the ‘Charles Taylor trial’. In a packed court room presiding Justice George Gelaga King … Continue reading →

Posted in African Politics, Alhaji Kromah, Blaise Compaore, Chad, Charles Taylor, Civil War(s) Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Ethiopia, Gaddafi, George Boley, Guinea Conakry, Haile Mariam Mengistu, Hissein Habré, Impunity in Africa, International Criminal Court ICC, Ivory Coast, Justice, Kenya, Liberia, Liberian History, Libya, Mali, Meles Zenawi, Nigeria, Omar al Bashir, Prince Y. Johnson, Robert Mugabe, Roosevelt Johnson, Samuel Kanyon Doe, Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Special Court, The Gambia, Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC), Tuareg, Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto, Zimbabwe | Leave a comment

Liberia revisited (3)

Posted on 19 May 2012 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Monrovia, Saturday, May 19 Much has changed, much is the same. This is my major observation when revisiting Monrovia, after 32 years. I left in the wake of the 1980 coup of master-sergeant Samuel Doe, I left a country where … Continue reading →

Posted in Africulture, Alhaji Kromah, Amos Sawyer, Barclay, Blamoh Nelson, Charles Taylor, Chuck Taylor, Civil War(s) Liberia, Debt relief, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Famous Liberians, George Boley, INPFL, Justice, Kimmie Weeks, LeRoye Urey, Liberia, Liberia Education, Liberian Demography, Liberian Economy, Liberian History, LPC, Monrovia, national budget, Prince Y. Johnson, Reconciliation, Ritual Killings, Samuel Kanyon Doe, Sierra Leone, Sierra Leone Special Court, Tipoteh, Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC), ULIMO, University of Liberia, UNMIL, Varney Sherman, William R. Tolbert Jr., William V.S. Tubman | Leave a comment

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 | Leave a comment

The Special Court for Sierra Leone and Charles Taylor

Posted on 2 May 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Charles Taylor had about US$ 5 billion in private US bank accounts during his presidency! At least, that is what his chief prosecutor, Stephen Rapp, announced today. I was flabbergasted when I heard the news. I could not believe my … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Taylor, Civil War(s) Liberia, Liberia, Sierra Leone | Leave a comment

Misc news from Liberia

Posted on 16 March 2008 by Dr. Fred P.M. van der Kraaij

Saturday, March 15 Many more atrocities committed by witness Marzah, ordered by Charles Taylor, according to his testimony before the Special Court for Sierra Leone. Gruesome details of atrocities both in Liberia and Sierra Leone, it surpasses one’s mind. My … Continue reading →

Posted in Charles Taylor, Civil War(s) Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Gus Kouwenhoven, Guus Kouwenhoven, Liberia, Liberian Demography, Liberian Economy, Liberian History, Ordinary Liberians, Ritual Killings, Sierra Leone | Leave a comment