The republic of liberia was originally founded and settled by black American settlers and freed slaves in the mid-19th century, with a structure of government mirroring to a great degree that of the United States. In the late 20th century, the country suffered through a series of civil wars, with a peace agreement signed in 2003. Despite the fact that the United Nations (UN) maintains a presence in Liberia, the situation remains volatile. Because the war and political strife drained so many resources, the country is still in the early stages of rebuilding its infrastructure and finding its path to economic recovery. Tens of thousands of Liberians were killed during the conflict, and at least 238,500 Liberians remain in other countries, unwilling to return to ...