Charles Taylor, a leader of the NPFL and later President of Liberia.

The Liberian Civil War was a conflict in Liberia from 1989 until 1996.

Samuel Doe, the President of Liberia, had taken power in a popular coup of 1980 but opposition from abroad to his undemocratic regime led to economic collapse. At first, Doe crushed internal opposition, but after his Krahn tribe began attacking other tribes – particularly in Nimba County – conflict seemed inevitable.

Charles Taylor, who had left Doe's government, assembled a group of rebels in Côte d'Ivoire who later became known as the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL). They invaded Nimba County on 24 December 1989. The Liberian Army retaliated against the whole population of the region, attacking unarmed civilians and burning villages. Many left as refugees for Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire, but opposition to Doe was enflamed. Prince Johnson had sided with Taylor in the invasion, but soon split to form his own guerrilla force, based on the Gio tribe.

By the middle of 1990, a civil war was raging. Taylor's NPFL soon controlled much of the country, while Johnson took most of the capital, Monrovia. ECOWAS attempted to persuade Doe to resign and go into exile, but despite his weak position – besieged in his mansion – he refused. As a result, Johnson attacked the mansion, killing Doe.

Peace was still far off as both Taylor and Johnson claimed power. ECOMOG declared an Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) with Amos Sawyer as their president, with the broad support of Johnson. Taylor attacked Monrovia in 1992, but ECOMOG reinforced the city and negotiated the Cotonou Agreement , a treaty between the NPFL, IGNU and Doe’s remaining supporters (known as the United Liberation Movement for Democracy or Ulimo). A coalition government was formed in August 1993.

In September 1994, the Akosombo Agreement attempted to replace the coalition with moves towards a democratic government, but IGNU rejected this. The Abuja Accord of August 1995 finally achieved this, but in April 1996 the NPFL and Ulimo again began fighting in Monrovia, leading to the evacuation of most international NGOs and the destruction of much of the city.

The battles were ended by an amendment to the Abuja Accord in August, agreeing to disarmament and demobilisation by 1997 and elections in July of that year. Charles Taylor formed the National Patriotic Party which won a large majority and left the country peaceful enough that refugees began to return. But other leaders were forced to leave the country, and some Ulimo forces reformed as the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD). LURD began fighting in Lofa County with the aim of destabilising the government and gaining control of the local diamond fields, leading to the Second Liberian Civil War .

The UN estimates that 150,000 people died during the conflict with 850,000 refugees fleeing to neighboring countries. The years of fighting, coupled with the flight of most businesses, had disrupted formal economic activity.