his group

Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 38.3%
male: 53.9%
female: 22.4%

Government
----------

Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of Liberia
conventional short form: Liberia

Data code: LI

Type of government: republic

Capital: Monrovia

Administrative divisions: 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa,
Grand Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland,
Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe

Independence: 26 July 1847

National holiday: Independence Day, 26 July (1847)

Constitution: 6 January 1986

Legal system: dual system of statutory law based on Anglo-American
common law for the modern sector and customary law based on
unwritten tribal practices for indigenous sector

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state and head of government: Chairman of the Council of
State Wilton SANKAWULO (since NA September 1995); president was to
be elected for a six-year term by universal suffrage at the end of
1995; election last held 15 October 1985 (next to be held NA August
1996); results - Samuel Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson DOE (LAP)
26.4%, other 22.7%
note: constitutional government ended in September 1990 when
President Samuel Kanyon DOE was killed by rebel forces; civil war
ensued and in August 1995 the Abuja peace accord was signed by the
major warring factions; a transitional coalition government under
Wilton SANKAWULO was formed in September 1995; presidential
elections are scheduled for August 1996
cabinet: Cabinet was selected by the leaders of the major factions
in the civil war

Legislative branch: unicameral Transitional Legislative Assembly,
the members of which are appointed by the leaders of the major
factions in the civil war
note: the former bicameral legislature no longer exists and is
unlikely to be reconstituted soon

Judicial branch: Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: National Democratic Party of
Liberia (NDPL), Augustus CAINE, chairman; Liberian Action Party
(LAP), Emmanuel KOROMAH, chairman; Unity Party (UP), Joseph KOFA,
chairman; United People's Party (UPP), Gabriel Baccus MATTHEWS,
chairman; National Patriotic Party (NPP), Charles TAYLOR, chairman;
Liberian Peoples Party (LPP), Dusty WOLOKOLLIE, chairman

International organization participation: ACP, AfDB, CCC, ECA,
ECOWAS, FAO, G-77,