April - Factional fighting resumes and spreads to Monrovia. August - West African peacekeepers initiate disarmament programme, clear land mines and reopen roads, allowing refugees to start returning. 1997 January - Disarmament programme declared a success. 1997 July - Presidential and legislative elections held. Charles Taylor wins a landslide and his National Patriotic Party wins a majority of seats in the National Assembly.
International observers declare the elections free and fair.
Border fighting 1999 January - Ghana and Nigeria accuse Liberia of supporting Revolutionary United Front rebels in Sierra Leone. Britain and the US threaten to suspend international aid to Liberia. 1999 April - Rebel forces thought to have crossed from Guinea attack the town of Voinjama. Subsequent fighting leads to the displacement of more than 25,000 people. September - Guinea accuses Liberian forces of entering its territory and attacking border villages.