Liberia marks its founding and independence amid challenges

Liberia celebrates its independence and founding by freed slaves

With Liberia turning 175, the nation is celebrating its past and the freed slaves who founded it. At the same time, residents and politicians are grappling with challenges now facing the country as they try to forge its future.

Liberia marks its founding and independence amid challenges

Liberia is celebrating two major anniversaries this year — 200 years ago freed slaves from the U.S. arrived here and 25 years later they declared the country to be independent. Amid the festivities for Independence Day on Tuesday, many Liberians say the West African country's promise is unfulfilled and too many of its people still live in poverty. “Liberia has gone backward 50 or more years,” says Richard Cooper, a 67-year-old farmer in Louisian…

Liberia marks its founding and independence amid challenges

Liberia is celebrating two major anniversaries this year — 200 years ago freed slaves from the U.S. arrived here and 25 years later they declared the country to be independent. Amid the festivities for Independence Day on Tuesday, many Liberians say the West African country's promise is unfulfilled and too many of its people still live in poverty. “Liberia has gone backward 50 or more years,” says Richard Cooper, a 67-year-old farmer in Louisian…

Liberia marks its founding and independence amid challenges

Liberia is celebrating two major anniversaries this year — 200 years ago freed slaves from the U.S. arrived here and 25 years later they declared the country to be independent. Amid the festivities for Independence Day on Tuesday, many Liberians say the West African country's promise is unfulfilled and too many of its people still live in poverty. “Liberia has gone backward 50 or more years,” says Richard Cooper, a 67-year-old farmer in Louisian…

Liberia marks its independence amid challenges

Amid the festivities for Independence Day on Tuesday, many Liberians say the West African country's promise is unfulfilled and too many of its people still live in poverty. Liberia is also celebrating this year, the bicentenary of its founding by freed slaves from the US.

Liberia marks its founding and independence amid challenges

Liberia is celebrating two major anniversaries this year — 200 years ago freed slaves from the U.S. arrived here and 25 years later they declared the country to be independent