Bilateral relations between Germany and Liberia go back a long way. The Hanseatic cities of Lübeck, Bremen and Hamburg recognised Liberia’s independence in 1855 (the first partners after the UK) and opened a joint consulate in Monrovia. Interrupted by the two World Wars, bilateral relations flourished and were mainly marked by trade. The German private sector had a strong presence in the country, and Germany was one of the main importers of Liberian iron ore. Due to the civil war, which broke out in 1989, the “Bomi Mines” had to close down and the German Embassy had to close as well. In 2005, it recommenced its work in Monrovia. Bilateral relations intensified during the term of office of President and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Currently, German companies are operating in strategic sectors of Liberia such as aviation, banking, the construction industry and the postal service. In the sphere of development cooperation, Germany has been mainly active in the spheres of healthcare, education and infrastructure. During 2024, projects such as the laboratory of excellence at the J.J. Dossen County Hospital in Harper (Maryland) and the Gateway Vocational Training Center in Bentol City (Montserrado) have been concluded, while the construction of a new County Hospital in Zwedru (Grand Gedeh) is ongoing. In this context, Germany has offered training and capacity building for Liberian experts.

On behalf of the German Government, GIZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit) provides advisory services to the Liberian Government on renewable energy and raw materials management. Germany has contributed to the construction and rehabilitation of Liberia’s road network under the auspices of several World Bank programmes. The expansion of the Liberian section of the West African Power Pool (WAPP) has been realised with the help of Germany’s Development Bank (KfW). Furthermore, GIZ and KfW have been engaged in a cross-border project to protect the Taï-Grebo-Sapo forest complex between Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire. In the political sphere, Germany is the biggest donor of the Peace Building Commission and the Peace Building Fund, based in New York. Under the auspices of the United Nations, these institutions have helped Liberia and its citizens to consolidate peace, inter alia through projects with women and youth and on Land Rights. Thus, Germany has been and keeps being a close and reliable partner of Liberia.