Liberia: Information on whether an individual who is ethnic Mandingo would currently be at risk of harm or torture, on account of its ethnicity, by the Taylor government

Queries: 

Would an individual who is ethnic Mandingo currently be at risk of harm or torture on account of their ethnicity by the Taylor government upon return to Liberia?

Response:

The Mandingo ethnic group gained political and economic status under President Tubman when they were brought into government positions and given commercial contracts.  Other groups for alleged government favoritism, resented the Mandingos.  President Doe played the Mandingos off against other ethnic groups.  Many who hated Doe began to mistrust the Mandingo when prominent Mandingos went on television to pledge their support for Doe following the 1985 coup (MRG 1997, 427).  As the war approached the capital of Monrovia in 1990, President Doe recruited Mandingos to serve in the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) without training (HRW Nov. 1997).  Following the death of Doe, former AFL members continued to oppose Taylor's NPFL under the banner of the United Liberation Movement for Democracy in Liberia (ULIMO).  In 1994 ULIMO split into two rival factions, with ULIMO-K led by Al-Haji Kromah representing Mandingo interests (HRW Nov. 1997).  During the civil war Mandingos were attacked by Taylor's NPFL.  With thousands of Mandingos being killed and their property being destroyed, many fled the country (MRG 1997, 427). 

The Resource Information Center (RIC) did not find evidence of the Taylor government systematically targeting Mandingos for harm merely on account of their ethnicity, as was the case on occasion with ethnic Krahns.  However many refugees of Mandingo origin, fear return to Liberia because they were targeted by Taylor's NPFL faction during the war.  Mandingo refugees are mainly found in Guinea and are regularly harassed by immigration officials as they return.  Mandingos who have returned found their homes occupied by former NPFL fighters or other displaced persons.  The general view among the population that Mandingos are "foreigners" has contributed to the feeling that Mandingo-owned property can be appropriated (HRW Nov. 1997).  There were reports that returning Mandingo refugees were not allowed to resettle in their home villages in Lofa, Bong, and Nimba Counties (Country Reports 1997, 1998, 191).

In January 1997 a Mandingo taxi drive was murdered.  This act led to a strike of taxi drivers who perceived ongoing discrimination by society against the Mandingo (Country Reports 1997, 1998, 183).  When the Taylor administration took power in August 1997, many Mandingos were dismissed from long standing government jobs.  In September 1997, prominent Mandingos began receiving threats from unknown individuals following President Taylor's accusation that Muslim Mandingos were fighting in Sierra Leone (Country Reports 1997, 1998, 191).

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the RIC within time constraints.  This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 1997. 1998.  United States

Department of State.  Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.

Human Rights Watch (HRW)/Africa.  November 1997.  Liberia: Emerging From

the Destruction. Vol. 9, No. 7 (A). New York: Human Rights Watch/Africa. 

Minority Rights Group International (MRG).  1997.  The World Directory of

Minorities. London: Minority Rights Group International.