British gunboats enter Monrovia as Havelock demands Liberian territorial cession

Background. Sir Arthur Elibank Havelock was a British military officer and colonial administrator who served as Governor of Sierra Leone from 1881 to 1884. He was also appointed British consul to Liberia, and in that capacity became involved in a major border dispute between Liberia and Great Britain.

Disputed Territory. The border between Sierra Leone and Liberia had been unsettled for years. The disputed area, known as the Gallinas territory, lay between the Sewa and the Mano rivers. This unresolved boundary created friction between the British colony and the Liberian state, setting the stage for diplomatic and military pressure.

The Demand. On 20 March 1882, Havelock led four British gunboats to the Liberian capital, Monrovia. He issued a demand that Liberia cede all territories up to the Mafa River. Furthermore, he required an indemnity of £8,500 to be paid to British merchants for injuries inflicted by tribes inhabiting the area of the British claim.