Local leader, European or African (8)

I believe the answer is:

liberian

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'african' is the definition.
(Liberian is an example)

'local leader european' is the wordplay.
'local leader' becomes 'l' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should give a lot more credence to this answer).
'european' becomes 'iberian' (I've seen this before).
'l'+'iberian'='LIBERIAN'

'or' is the link.

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for liberian that I've seen before include "West African" , "Native of Monrovia" , "Monrovian, say" , "One from Monrovia, say" , "Nationality of citizen of Monrovia" .)

I've seen this clue in The Guardian.

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