<hdr>The World Factbook 1994: Liberia<nl>Government</hdr><body>
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<item><hi format=bold>Names:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional long form:</hi> Republic of Liberia
<item>• <hi format=ital>conventional short form:</hi> Liberia
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<item><hi format=bold>Digraph:</hi> LI
<item><hi format=bold>Type:</hi> republic
<item><hi format=bold>Capital:</hi> Monrovia
<item><hi format=bold>Administrative divisions:</hi> 13 counties; Bomi, Bong, Grand Bassa, Cape Mount, Grand Gedeh, Grand Kru, Lofa, Margibi, Maryland, Montserrado, Nimba, River Cess, Sinoe
<item><hi format=bold>Independence:</hi> 26 July 1847
<item><hi format=bold>National holiday:</hi> Independence Day, 26 July (1847)
<item><hi format=bold>Constitution:</hi> 6 January 1986
<item><hi format=bold>Legal system:</hi> 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
<item><hi format=bold>Suffrage:</hi> 18 years of age; universal
<item><hi format=bold>Executive branch:</hi>
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<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of state and head of government:</hi> Chairman of the Council of State David KPOMAKPOR (since March 1994); election last held on 15 October 1985 (next scheduled to be held September 1994); results—Gen. Dr. Samuel Kanyon DOE (NDPL) 50.9%, Jackson DOE (LAP) 26.4%, other 22.7%; note—President Doe was killed by rebel forces on 9 September 1990
<item>• <hi format=ital>cabinet:</hi> Cabinet; selected by the leaders of the major factions in the civil war
<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> a transitional coalition government was formed as part of a July 1993 Cotonou Peace Treaty negotiated under UN auspices by the leaders of the major factions in the civil war; elections now scheduled for September 1994
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<item><hi format=bold>Legislative branch:</hi> unicameral Transitional Legislative Assembly, the members of which are appointed by the leaders of the major factions in the civil war
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<item>• <hi format=ital>note:</hi> the former bicameral legislature no longer exists and there is no assurance that it will ever be reconstituted
<item><hi format=bold>Political parties and leaders:</hi> 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
<item>• <hi format=ital>chief of mission:</hi> (vacant); Charge d' Affaires William P. TWADDELL
<item>• <hi format=ital>embassy:</hi> 111 United Nations Drive, Monrovia
<item>• <hi format=ital>mailing address:</hi> P. O. Box 100098, Mamba Point, Monrovia, or APO AE 09813
<item>• <hi format=ital>telephone:</hi> [231] 222991 through 222994
<item>• <hi format=ital>FAX:</hi> [231] 223710
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<item><hi format=bold>Flag:</hi> 11 equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white; there is a white five-pointed star on a blue square in the upper hoist-side corner; the design was based on the US flag