A Liberian economist, Jamel Dugbeh, has sparked public debate after describing Liberia’s post-war history as “one of recurring misfortune,” criticizing what he calls a national tendency to blame past crises for present-day challenges.
In a widely circulated commentary, Dugbeh argued that more than two decades after the end of the Liberian Civil War, the country continues to attribute its social and economic difficulties to the war and subsequent crises.
He pointed to issues such as drug abuse, teenage pregnancy, weak education and health systems, and poor infrastructure, saying these are frequently linked to past events including the Ebola outbreak and the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Dugbeh warned that this pattern of attributing national setbacks to external shocks could persist into the future, imagining a scenario where even potential conflicts with neighboring Guinea might be added to what he described as a “chain of accusations.”
He stressed that while historical events have undeniably impacted Liberia’s development, continued reliance on them as explanations risks undermining accountability and long-term progress.
The commentary has generated mixed reactions, with some agreeing that Liberia must move beyond its past, while others argue that the lasting effects of war and crises cannot be ignored in national development planning.
