Obama ends sanctions against Liberia

By Nicole Duran, Nicole Duran

Published December 20, 2015

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President Obama on Thursday rescinded George W. Bush's 2004 executive order declaring a national emergency regarding Liberia and its former president, warlord and convicted war criminal Charles Taylor.

"I have determined that the situation that gave rise to this national emergency has been significantly altered by Liberia's advances to promote democracy and the orderly development of its political, administrative and economic institutions," Obama wrote in his memo to congressional leaders.

Bush put the state of emergency and sanctions in place after Liberia emerged from civil war and Taylor fled to Nigeria with much of the national treasury. Bush's actions froze Taylor's assets as well as those of his son and 10 of their cronies.