INPFL

During the early years of Charles Taylor's insurrection against Samuel Doe's government, one of Taylor's lieutenants had a fallout over leadership with him. The lieutenant's name was Prince Johnson (not to be confused with ULIMO-J leader Roosevelt Johnson, which is often misleadingly labeled as Prince by photo archives). Johnson then broke off from Taylor's NPFL, and started his own faction called the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL). INPFL forces were some of the most powerful factions in the early years of the war. Several of the INPFL fighters were equipped with military fatigues possibly captured from AFL forces. INPFL forces were also known for their brutal disciplinary actions. Johnson has been reported for personally shooting his own men for crimes such as "wasting ammunition on civilians", rape, and passing rice out to people. INPFL was briefly supported by the US. US marines trained INPFL and airlifted INPFL fighters to combat. However, the brutailty of the INPFL became embarrassing for the US to back them [Kieh 2008]. The most infamous act committed by the INPFL was the kidnapping and torture of Samuel Doe himself while videotaping the act. Doe eventually died by allegedly slamming his head against the bathroom door where he was held repeatedly. However do to repeated attacks from the NPFL and ECOMOG, the INPFL forces disbanded in 1992 and Johnson went to exile.