Liberia - Armed forces

Following the end of Liberia's seven-year civil war in 1997, plans were drawn up for reorganization of the military, which was lacking both naval and air capability by the end of the war. The defense budget in 2001 was $7.8 million or 1.3% of GDP. As of 2002, active armed forces numbered between 11,000 and 14,000 including militias supportive of the government. Plans for a reorganized military include an army, navy, and air force. The opposition has a reported strength of several thousand members in the Liberian United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD).