Liberia was formed through the efforts of emancipation associations and societies, especially the American Colonization Society (ACS). This society was established in the United States in the early nineteenth century when the idea of finding a homeland for the freed slaves in their country of origin, i.e. in Africa, evolved. Their aim was to find them a homeland to relocate Africans who had been brought to America as slaves to work in American farms. The US administration dispatched expeditions to Africa for the purpose of searching for a suitable homeland to resettle these former African-American slaves. They chose Liberia, which was then known as the South Coast. The first batch of settlers, former African-American slaves or free blacks, arrived for settlement in Liberia in 1820.
It all started with the establishment of the capital city of Monrovia in 1237 AH - 1821 AD on the Atlantic Coast, and then the American colonizers sought to stake out the largest possible holdings in the area for themselves, at the expense of the Islamic state, which was established on the Fouta Djallon highlands of modern Guinea and extended to present-day Liberia.
This Muslim state was a strong state and the Fulani tribes contributed to its founding to include West African countries, particularly Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and Cote d’Ivoire. Until now, authority lies in the hands of the black Americans who migrated to this region, even though they make up merely 5% of the total population of Liberia. The Muslim minority in Liberia are deprived of that right, although Muslims make up almost one third of the population, and some sources state that their number exceeds half.
Liberia witnessed two civil wars in the years 1989 – 1996 AD, and 1999 – 2003 AD. Hundreds of thousands of refugees left Liberia as a consequence. Liberia is the oldest independent state; it gained independence in 1263 AH – 1864 AD.
Population of Liberia:
The population of Liberia exceeds 3,500,000 people, according to the estimate of July 2006; about 25% of the population are Muslims, 65% belong to local religions, and 10% are Christians.
Ethnic groups:
Indigenous African groups make up about 95% of the Liberian population and include 35 tribes; the major tribes are the Kpelle (also known as the Guerze): 20%, Bassa: 14%, Geo (also spelled as Gio or Gyo): 9%, Grebo: 8%, Kru: 8%, Mano: 7%, Mandingo or Mandinka: 4%, and African-Americans (former slaves) make up about 5% of the population.
Muslims’ problems at the present time:
At the top of these problems come poverty and ignorance that spread among Muslim tribes. Muslims have only one private school, which was founded by the Muslim World League (MWL). In this three-floor school, students learn the Quran and Arabic language. Most of the other schools are run by Christian missionaries, most of which refuse to enroll Muslim students and require pupils to embrace Christianity in order to receive free education. Moreover, Muslims do not have any hospitals of their own.
Another problem that faces Muslims in Liberia is the small number of mosques in Monrovia. In the Liberian capital Monrovia, Muslims have only five Mosques, whereas there are 43 churches.
Another obstacle that Muslims face in Liberia is the American and Israeli penetration into the country as they fight Islam and Muslims. The US–based Firestone Rubber and Tire Company monopolizes the rubber crop, which is one of Liberia's main exports. The Liberian economy is largely controlled by the US and Israel, whose experts spread in Liberia and support the ruling regime in stemming the tide of Islamic influence in Liberia.
However, the conditions of Muslims have started to improve in recent years, thanks to support from neighboring countries with Muslim majorities such as Guinea and Sierra Leone. Powerful Muslim leaders have also lent a hand to try and boost resources for Liberia’s Islamic community, including Mr. Mohammed Kromah, former chairman of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA). Liberia’s Muslims have founded two Islamic organizations in Monrovia: the Liberian Studies Association, whose mission is to spread the call to Islam among non-Muslims; and the Islamic Organization for Education, which has established two centers for educating Imams in the capital, teaching the Noble Quran and Arabic to new converts, and providing them with new sources of income wherever possible.
However, the attention that the Islamic societies and organizations pay to Liberian Muslims is still weak and not commensurate with the expectations of those who are striving to spread Islam in West Africa.