LIBERIA

• Document Type: FOIA
• Collection: FOIA Collection
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): 0005618112
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: U
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: June 24, 2015
• Document Release Date: July 21, 2011
• Case Number: F-2009-01701
• Publication Date: April 14, 1980

 LIBERIA .: .v
The?nem govermnent has `not yet'ooneolidated itscontroZfoZlaw-
ing the coup on,Satmdayhthgt,:resuZ?ed in the,asaasaination of
President Tolbert '-The seourtty sztuatiori n'Monrovia appears to
be deterioraty.ri~:~~,,a y . ?
The~coup that toppled theruling;,,True,Whig Party,.
.government, although poorly organized-;';apparently met
almost no resistance from Army or pollce`forces. Coup
leader Sgt Samuel Doe`reporte;dly,is`making all decisions,
but he does not ;appear~?to have fullcontrol `over and'
support from;military `and polce~for6es. He and his
closest advisers seein.;to be";,overwhelmed by the task of
restoring order and organizing;a.furictoning government.
Although ;the: chances, of a countercoup from forces loyal
tothe of"d regime now ,~appear;~r,einote;.?DOe could .face a ,
cha1T~om-more experienced elements in the,miltary.-
Unruly troops continued to-roam she city last night,
and several serious incidents .of robberies of US citizens
and business fac htie5 have',been'reported.
Arrest`s.appear to~be:increasing, as well as reports
of mistreatment,of,pzisonersr..Although the new govern-
ment had announced that only ethose involved in "rampant
corruption" would be arrested and tred,,most former
high-level official`s ,as"?well as;their,,,wives-hayebeen
arrested. Apparently?there.isa,growng desire among
the indigenous enlisteYd ranks for; revenge on the minority
F r,~~,... ~,
elite Americo-L'iberian~po ulat'on and .anyone associated
w-th the Tolbert~family..~
Th=ts is an-ominous?developmentin`vew of the mili-
tary tribunal,scheduled;to began arials today. The
growing emotionalism may createian atmos"hero in which
only guilty verdicts w3-1=-,suffice,.,..,
 The situation is complicated-by reports that the
country's supp3y;:of rice= a staple food--will be ex-
`
'10,~days; with the possibility
hausted 'within the` next'
that a new;;'shipmeat, wi11,3~not arive~ soon. _ At this stage
it is probable that the~ciew government ;has not focused
"
`
matters as
food~~imports."w s A severe rice shortage
on such
would put-?tremendous? strains on~:tthe new- regime and the
potential 'for additional`violence may nc=ea'se.
~y?~ ?rTrk., ~~ ~ ~_,,
~
~ ~ n
The aew leaders'haye expressed a.desire to maintain
close relations with the,>US, but'held`.out the prospect
that they may :have to'tyrn elsewhere-=in:an appaient
reference Ito the"Soviets`;' 1f expectations of US support
are not met. .The aew leaders assured-US officials that
they would respect all contracts` and a reements between
Liberia and`.the US