Under the rule of the settlers, indigenous Liberians were treated as second-class citizens. These reforms were long overdue however and they soon gave vent to a deep well of resentment which erupted into full-scale violence in early 1980. Thus while the civil war was sparked off by the excesses of the Doe regime, its roots run deep in Liberian history. This, together with economic hardship, explains the popular euphoria that greeted both the 1980 coup and the NPFL invasion in 1989. The Liberian conflict is a striking example of contemporary warfare, involving the use of irregular armies and guerrilla tactics.
Fighters use mostly light weapons, lack air cover and are bloodthirsty and unprofessional.
The rape and sexual abuse of women and girls has also been widespread. Among the many flagrant human rights violations, abuse of children has been especially common. Various estimates put the total number of Liberian soldiers below the age of 15 at around 6,000, approximately 10 per cent of all fighters. Trauma on this scale leaves deep scars on a country's collective psyche. While the factions have exploited Liberia's natural resources throughout the war, the long-term decline of the formal economy has intensified rapidly, further undermining state revenues.