President Obama on Thursday rescinded George W. Bush’s 2004 executive order declaring a national emergency regarding Liberia and its former president, warlord and convicted war criminal Charles Taylor.
“I have determined that the situation that gave rise to this national emergency has been significantly altered by Liberia’s advances to promote democracy and the orderly development of its political, administrative and economic institutions,” Obama wrote in his memo to congressional leaders.
Bush put the state of emergency and sanctions in place after Liberia emerged from civil war and Taylor fled to Nigeria with much of the national treasury. Bush’s actions froze Taylor’s assets as well as those of his son and 10 of their cronies.
Citing their “unlawful depletion of Liberian resources” and “secreting of Liberian funds and property” out of the country, Obama said Bush’s order was necessary and helped de-escalate the conflict that Taylor ignited in 1989 when his Libyan-backed rebel group rampaged across Liberia to overthrow its then leader, Samuel Doe, who rose to power in a military coup he staged.
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Citing free Liberian elections in 2005 and 2011and Taylor’s 50-year prison sentence as examples of progress, “There is no further need for the blocking of assets imposed by” the Bush order, Obama wrote.
“The United States congratulates the people of Liberia for their determination, ingenuity and commitment to peace and democracy that has made this possible,” National Security Council spokesman Ned Price stated shortly after Obama rescinded the order.
“Liberia has worked to overcome not only the scars of war but also the challenge of responding to an unprecedented outbreak of Ebola at a time when Liberians were in the middle of the vital work of consolidating democracy, building their economy, investing in infrastructure and strengthening their security services,” Price said.
“Much remains to be done, especially as Liberia looks ahead to other major milestones, including the transfer of security responsibility from the U.N. mission in Liberia in July 2016 and presidential elections in 2017,” he continued. “Liberia and its people are up to these challenges.”
In addition to his conviction in Liberia, Taylor was found guilty of war crimes by the international tribunal at The Hague in 2012.
