The Americo-Liberian ruling class of Liberia really weren’t like any other ruling class in Africa. They were the descendants of the initial American settlers who had uninterrupted rule of the country from independence in 1847 until President Tolbert was overthrown by an army sergeant, the pictured Samuel Doe, in 1980. The Americo-Liberians were never more than 5% of the population, but ruled over the other 16 distinct indigenous ethnic groups of Liberia. They rarely married outside of their group, spoke English, were mainstream Protestants, and completely controlled the government and economy of the country. They were colonists who didn’t have a home country to return to, so it is easy to see why Liberia doesn’t really fit into Pan-African history. There is also the fact that for much of recent history the country was in chaos, with two civil wars since 1989. It’s hard to have aspirations for a united Africa when the people in each country can’t get along with each other.