According to petwithsupplies, Liberia is a small West African nation located on the Atlantic coast of the continent. It has a population of approximately 5 million people and is made up of 15 counties. The largest cities in Liberia are Monrovia, Gbarnga, and Buchanan. Monrovia is the capital and largest city in Liberia, with a population of over one million people. It is situated on the Atlantic coast at the mouth of the Mesurado River and serves as an important port for both imports and exports. The city was founded by freed African-American slaves in 1822 and was named after President James Monroe. Today, Monrovia is home to many important government buildings as well as several universities, hospitals, and churches. Gbarnga is Liberia’s second-largest city with a population of around 200,000 people. Located in Bong County in central Liberia, Gbarnga serves as an important agricultural center for the surrounding areas. It is also home to one of two campuses of the University of Liberia which was founded in 1862 by freed American slaves from Virginia. Buchanan is Liberia’s third-largest city with a population of around 100,000 people. Located on the Atlantic coast in Grand Bassa County, Buchanan serves as an important port for imports and exports to other countries along Africa’s western coastline. It also has several factories that produce rubber products for export to other countries around the world. Overall, Monrovia remains Liberia’s largest city while Gbarnga and Buchanan are its second-and third-largest cities respectively; all three cities remain important economic centers within the country due to their strategic location along Africa’s western coastline as well as their various industries which contribute significantly to national income levels. In 2008, Liberia was a nation still in recovery from the civil war that had engulfed the country for more than a decade. The country had only recently begun to rebuild its infrastructure and institutions, and the political landscape was in a state of flux. In May of that year, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was sworn in as President of Liberia, becoming the first female head of state in Africa. The geopolitics of Liberia in 2008 revolved around issues related to economic development, security, democracy, and regional cooperation. The government sought to attract foreign investment and strengthen its economy by improving infrastructure projects such as roads and ports. At the same time, it worked to create an environment conducive to economic growth by establishing an effective legal framework and implementing public sector reforms. In terms of security, Liberia sought to consolidate peace by strengthening its security forces and engaging with regional organizations such as ECOWAS (the Economic Community Of West African States). It also began making progress on reconciliation initiatives designed to bring together former combatants and help heal the deep divisions caused by years of conflict. In terms of democracy and governance, President Johnson Sirleaf’s administration sought to promote good governance by fighting corruption and strengthening public institutions. It also worked towards greater transparency by introducing new laws that promoted freedom of information and access to public documents. Finally, Liberia sought greater regional cooperation with other West African nations through initiatives such as ECOWAS’s Common External Tariff (CET) scheme which aimed at reducing trade barriers between member states. Ultimately, these efforts were aimed at promoting economic growth through increased integration between West African countries while also helping promote peace throughout the region. Check eningbo for Liberia in 2012.