IPNEWS: December 24, 1989 – December 24, 2024: Marking 35 Years Since the National Patriotic Front of Liberia’s Invasion
December 24, 2024, marks 35 years since the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) launched its historic invasion into Liberia. This event, which reshaped the nation’s history, began with a group of Special Forces crossing the Cavalla River into Butuo, a border town manned by only eight Liberian security personnel, including officers from the Liberia National Police, Immigration, Customs, and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).
The NPFL’s invasion was led by a revised group of Patriots from the failed 1985 coup attempt. Operating under a new banner, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, their entry into the country marked the onset of a brutal civil war that would last over a decade, claiming hundreds of thousands of lives and displacing millions.
The Key Figures Who Crossed the Cavalla River
Among the Special Forces who launched the invasion were both Liberians and foreign nationals, including key figures who later played significant roles in the country’s history. Notable names include:
1. Prince Y. Johnson
2. Samuel Varney
3. Oliver Varney
4. Edmund G. Johnson
5. Paul B. Harris
6. Benjamin Yeaten
7. Mohammed Jerome Al Jara Jack (“Jack the Rebel”) – Senegalese
8. Bobby Beah
9. Solomon Saywatt
10. Moses Z. Blah – Later served as Liberia’s Vice President and interim President
11. Foday Sankoh – Sierra Leonean, later infamous for his role in the Sierra Leone Civil War
12. Musa Sesay – Sierra Leonean
13. Domigo Ramos – Gambian
14. Jackson Mannie – Gambian
15. Isaac Says Measahn (“Isaac Musa”)
The group comprised a mix of Liberians and foreign nationals, such as Gambians, Sierra Leoneans, and Senegalese, who were drawn together by a shared mission to topple the Doe regime.
The Events of December 24, 1989
The group, heavily armed and motivated, entered Liberia through Butuo, quickly overwhelming the limited security personnel stationed at the border. Their entry marked the beginning of one of Africa’s deadliest conflicts, the Liberian Civil War, which saw the collapse of the Samuel Doe government and the eventual rise of Charles Taylor, one of the invasion’s key architects, to power.
The Legacy of the Invasion
Over the past 35 years, the December 24 invasion has remained a pivotal moment in Liberia’s history. While it marked the beginning of the end for the Doe government, it also ushered in years of instability, destruction, and suffering for the Liberian people. The war devastated the nation’s infrastructure, economy, and social fabric, leaving scars that continue to affect Liberia today.
The NPFL invasion serves as a somber reminder of the consequences of political discontent and the devastating impact of civil war. For many Liberians, December 24 is a day of reflection on the struggles and resilience of the nation in the face of profound adversity.
Liberia Today
As the nation marks this historical milestone, there are calls for continued reconciliation, justice, and efforts to heal the wounds of the past. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his administration have emphasized the importance of learning from history to build a more united, peaceful, and prosperous Liberia.
This anniversary offers an opportunity for Liberians to reflect on the events of December 24, 1989, and renew their commitment to ensuring that such a tragedy never repeats itself.
