Liberia

woman

The Liberian women who took on their traffickers and won

Liberia has been on and off the State Department's human trafficking watch list for years. In this desperately poor country, people accept jobs from agents to work as domestic servants in other countries. Usually, they are trapped, earning little money and subject to abuse. But several hundred Liberian women used social media to escape their traffickers in 2022.

The Liberian women who took on their traffickers and won
Liberian school children in the courtyard at Cathedral High School as students arrive in the morning to attend class in Monrovia, Liberia, Monday, Feb. 16, 2015. 

How we make decisions about politics in the aftermath of conflict

How we make decisions about politics in the aftermath of conflict
Haitian President Jovenel Moise arrives for an interview at his home in Petion-Ville, a suburb of Port-au-Prince, Haiti

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse assassinated in overnight attack

Haitian President Jovenel Moïse assassinated in overnight attack
A woman stands in silhouette against a blue sky.

Liberians hesitate to apply for permanent resident status in US over daunting process

Liberians hesitate to apply for permanent resident status in US over daunting process
Moroccan UN peacekeepers wearing blue helmets patrol a rich soil road Bangassou, Central African Republic, Feb. 14, 2021. 

Externalities of intervention: Part I

Externalities of intervention: Part I
A woman speaks at a podium representing Black Immigrant Collective.

'It’s hard to have hope when you haven't had time to breathe,’ says Liberian American activist on Chauvin verdict

Alfreda Daniels Juasemai, a community organizer and co-founder of Black Immigrant Collective in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, says the Chauvin verdict doesn't offer much hope.

'It’s hard to have hope when you haven't had time to breathe,’ says Liberian American activist on Chauvin verdict
African American Mayor Mike Elliott poses in a dark gray suit

Brooklyn Center mayor on Chauvin trial: Black people can no longer tolerate ‘a state of terror’

Mayor Mike Elliott talks to Marco Werman about how his childhood in Liberia prepared him for this leadership moment — as his city grapples with the killing of Daunte Wright, and braces for the verdict in the case of George Floyd's death.

Brooklyn Center mayor on Chauvin trial: Black people can no longer tolerate ‘a state of terror’
Joe Biden, a white man, is stands near nominee Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a Black woman, who is wearing a dark blue suit onstage at a podium.

Biden pick to lead US mission at UN will 'rebuild ties with our closest allies,' says former amb.

With over three decades in the US foreign service, Linda Thomas-Greenfield hopes to chart a new course for the US in the halls of the United Nations. Marco Werman speaks to her colleague, former Ambassador Johnnie Carson, about how the adversity that Thomas-Greenfield faced in her career has prepared her for this role.

Biden pick to lead US mission at UN will 'rebuild ties with our closest allies,' says former amb.
A woman prays during a service

‘It doesn’t feel very real': Liberian immigrants in US rejoice at pathway to citizenship

A pathway to green cards and US citizenship is within reach for an estimated 4,000 Liberians thanks to a provision buried within the behemoth $738 billion defense policy bill passed by the US Senate on Tuesday. 

‘It doesn’t feel very real': Liberian immigrants in US rejoice at pathway to citizenship
A group of people holding signs gather in front of a courthouse building

Legal status for thousands of Liberians in US hangs on court decision

Some 4,000 Liberians will lose their legal status due to the Trump administration’s termination of a program that granted them temporary reprieves from deportation. This week, they got their day in court.

Legal status for thousands of Liberians in US hangs on court decision
Alfred Brownell

This Liberian lawyer risked his life to save West Africa's last remaining rainforest from palm oil developers

When a palm oil development project tried to cut down the last major swath of tropical rainforest in Liberia, lawyer Alfred Brownell jumped into action — and almost lost his life.

This Liberian lawyer risked his life to save West Africa's last remaining rainforest from palm oil developers
Women in blue and white shirts dance and sing.

Almost undocumented, Liberians in US get 11th hour reprieve

Up to 4,000 Liberians with Deferred Enforced Departure status were nearly rendered undocumented March 31, after US President Donald Trump declined to renew their status last year. But at the 11th hour, the White House reversed course. But there is still no permanent solution set for DED holders, many of whom have US-citizen family members.

Almost undocumented, Liberians in US get 11th hour reprieve
Woman in crowd looking at camera

Liberia was founded by people enslaved in the US. Advocates say the US should not end an immigration program that helps them.

A small immigration program for Liberians in the US will expire at the end of March. Minnesota economists and health care companies say their losing immigration status will have an outsized effect.

Liberia was founded by people enslaved in the US. Advocates say the US should not end an immigration program that helps them.
Ellen Sirleaf wears a grey headwrap and robe as she speaks to a man in a blue suit.

Liberia's Ellen Sirleaf: Women's icon with nerves of steel

Ellen Sirleaf, the first elected president in Liberia who has served two six-year terms, will preside over the country's first democratic transfer of power since 1944

Liberia's Ellen Sirleaf: Women's icon with nerves of steel
Supporters of George Weah, former soccer player and presidential candidate of Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), celebrate after the announcement of the presidential election results in Monrovia, Liberia

Football celebrates Weah's win in Liberian presidential election

Despite numerous examples of the game's former stars entering politics, Weah is the first former player to succeed in being elected head of his country.

Football celebrates Weah's win in Liberian presidential election