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Liberia's fierce 14-year civil war ended in 2003 after killing more than 200,000 people and leaving 15,000 former combatants facing a struggle to rebuild their lives.
Western-backed Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who took office in January 2006, has sought to reduce corruption, build support from international donors and encourage private investment. However, Liberia continues to face a massive challenge to rebuild itself as it struggles to deal with unemployed ex-combatants, war orphans, a cripplingly under-qualified work force, especially teachers, and a swelling number of returning refugees.