A photo of Charles Taylor, a Liberian Patriotic Front leader later convicted of war crimes, holding an AKMS equipped with an M203 grenade launcher during the first Liberian civil war.
Prior to Liberia's civil war, the country was ostensibly stable. Many of its military arsenals are weapons surplus from the United States, and occasionally use small arms from Europe. For example, Liberia purchased a large surplus of M1903 and M1 Garand rifles. In the mid-60s of the 20th century, there were attempts to replace these rifles with FN FAR, although there was never enough power to completely replace them. Therefore, these old rifles were used a lot in the 80s of the 20th century, when the country was beginning to fall apart. Liberia did acquire more modern small arms like the M16A1 and M203, but for the most part, they were completely dependent on eastern imports such as Romanian AK.
Taylor is wanted on corruption charges. There has also been a split in the group, which will be made up of fighters who are tired of Taylor. Despite negotiations, fighting continued until 1996. The Patriotic Front was responsible for a series of atrocities during the war. It will come under further scrutiny when it supports the RUF (RUF) in Sierra Leone. The organization ceased to function in 1996, but will be replaced by the National Patriotic Party. Charles Taylor was arrested a few years later and charged with war crimes. He is currently serving his sentence in Frankland Prison in the United Kingdom.
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