Monrovia, Liberia
Liberia’s deposed president, Charles Taylor, is still meddling in his country’s affairs from exile in Nigeria, diplomats said this week. Violating the terms of his asylum, Taylor has been repeatedly phoning his handpicked successor, Moses Blah, and calling in debts from Liberian businessmen. Taylor is believed to have looted as much as $1 billion from state-run industries during his nine-year rule, and he may still be profiting from the country’s “flag of convenience” arrangements. Liberia earns $24 million a year by registering 70 percent of the world’s cargo ships under its flag. “Which bank account is that money going into?” asked Jacques Klein, U.N. envoy to Liberia. “We’ll need to figure that out.”
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Controversial GOP plan to sell millions of federal acres hits major roadblockIN THE SPOTLIGHT Republican Sen. Mike Lee says he'll revisit legislation to sell millions of acres of federally held land to create 'freedom zones' of single family homes
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
5 high-concept animated science fiction shows for grown-upsThe Week Recommends How filmmakers are using a different medium to bring visionary science fiction to life
