Liberia marks its 179th year of independence on Sunday. The West African nation declared itself a sovereign republic on July 26, 1847, making it the oldest independent republic on the continent. Liberia in the 179 years since it became free, it still faces deeply interconnected political and socioeconomic challenges that severely hinder its development. Politically, the country struggles with pervasive institutional corruption and severe socioeconomic hardships. It is reported that over half of the population is living below the poverty line amid rampant inflation and critical food insecurity. We spoke to Political Analyst and Director for Centre for the Advancement of Non-Racialism and Democracy (CANRAD) at the Nelson Mandela University in South Africa, Dr Bheki Mngomezulu