<P> Liberia is the first African republic to have self - proclaimed independence on July 26, 1847 and is Africa's first and oldest modern republic . Liberia retained its independence during the Scramble for Africa . During World War II, Liberia supported the United States war efforts against Germany and in turn the U.S. invested in considerable infrastructure in Liberia to help its war effort, which also aided the country in modernizing and improving its major air transportation facilities . In addition, President William Tubman encouraged economic changes . Internationally, Liberia was a founding member of the League of Nations, United Nations and the Organisation of African Unity . </P> <P> Political tensions from the rule of William R. Tolbert resulted in a military coup in 1980 that overthrew his leadership soon after his death, marking the beginning of years - long political instability . Five years of military rule by the People's Redemption Council and five years of civilian rule by the National Democratic Party of Liberia were followed by the First and Second Liberian Civil Wars . These resulted in the deaths of 250,000 people (about 8% of the population), the displacement of many more and shrunk Liberia's economy by 90% . A peace agreement in 2003 led to democratic elections in 2005, in which Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was elected President . Recovery proceeds but about 85% of the population live below the international poverty line . Liberia's economic and political stability was threatened in the 2010s by an Ebola virus epidemic; it originated in Guinea in December 2013, entered Liberia in March 2014, and was declared officially ended on May 8, 2015 . </P> <P> The Pepper Coast, also known as the Grain Coast, has been inhabited by indigenous peoples of Africa at least as far back as the 12th century . Mende - speaking people expanded westward from the Sudan, forcing many smaller ethnic groups southward toward the Atlantic Ocean . The Dei, Bassa, Kru, Gola and Kissi were some of the earliest documented peoples in the area . </P> <P> This influx of these groups was compounded by the decline of the Western Sudanic Mali Empire in 1375 and the Songhai Empire in 1591 . Additionally, as inland regions underwent desertification, inhabitants moved to the wetter coast . These new inhabitants brought skills such as cotton spinning, cloth weaving, iron Liberia was apart of the Kingdom of Koya from 1450 - 1898, they continued trading smelting, rice and sorghum cultivation, and social and political institutions from the Mali and Songhai empires . Shortly after the Mane conquered the region, the Vai people of the former Mali Empire immigrated into the Grand Cape Mount County region . The ethnic Kru opposed the influx of Vai, forming an alliance with the Mane to stop further influx of Vai . </P>

Name an african country with this type of vegetation