unmil focus · 2015. 7. 31. · 2 unmil focus december 2005 - february 2006 w ith the inauguration...

Vol. 2, No. 02UNMIL FOCUS

December 2005 - February 2006

Liberia RebornInterview: Dr. Ibn ChambasRefugee Returns SurgeClassrooms Come Alive

2 UNMIL FOCUS December 2005 - February 2006

With the inauguration of thenew democratically electedgovernment, Liberia hasbegun a new chapter in itshistory. President EllenJohnson-Sirleaf is the first woman in Africato be elected Head of State. This is a historicmoment not only for Liberia but for all ofAfrica.

UNMIL has been a constant companionof Liberia on its long march to peace. Bymaintaining security throughout the coun-try and helping organize the national elec-tions, UNMIL, since its deployment inOctober 2003, has significantly contributedto transforming Liberia from a brutal bat-tled to a peaceful nation. With over 100,000combatants disarmed and former warringfactions disbanded, a stable security envi-ronment prevails across the nation today.State authority has been consolidated andtens of thousands of refugees and internal-ly displaced persons have returned home.Skills training programmes to reintegratedisarmed combatants into mainstreamsociety continue. A Truth andReconciliation Commission has been estab-lished, security sector reforms have beenlaunched and the Governance andEconomic Management AssistanceProgramme (GEMAP) has been initiated.

These achievements have laid the foun-

From the Special Representative of theSecretary-General

Alan DossSpecial Representative of theSecretary-General and Coordinator ofUnited Nations Operations in Liberia

dations for the return of peace and prosper-ity to the country. The people of Liberianow have an opportunity to transform anddevelop their country, endowed, as it is,with abundant natural resources and enjoy-ing significant international goodwill.

Like any country emerging from conflict,Liberia faces formidable challenges -- eco-nomic recovery, poverty reduction, provi-sion of basic services such as water andelectricity, and ensuring effective gover-nance as well as physical security. Otherpressing priorities include reintegration ofwar-affected persons and former combat-ants, promoting human rights, rehabilitat-ing the judicial system, and genuine socialreconciliation to heal the wounds of war.

Restoring a failed state is an arduoustask but past experiences have taught usthat an incomplete peace is often the prel-ude to renewed conflict. The internationalcommunity must stay the course and helpthe country consolidate the achievementsmade so far. Investing in effective peace-building efforts in Liberia will pay divi-dends not only to this country but also tothe whole region of West Africa, which haswitnessed conflict engulf neigbouringcountries.

UNMIL remains committed to Liberiaand looks forward to working with the newgovernment and our international andregional partners to build on the founda-tions laid during the past two years.

December 2005 - February 2006 UNMIL FOCUS 3

SSppeecciiaall RReepprreesseennttaattiivvee ooff tthheeSSeeccrreettaarryy-GGeenneerraall aanndd CCoooorrddiinnaattoorrooff UUnniitteedd NNaattiioonnss OOppeerraattiioonnss iinnLLiibbeerriiaaAlan DDoss

DDeeppuuttyy SSppeecciiaall RReepprreesseennttaattiivvee ooff tthheeSSeeccrreettaarryy-GGeenneerraall ffoorr OOppeerraattiioonnssaanndd RRuullee ooff LLaawwLuiz CCarlos dda CCosta

DDeeppuuttyy SSppeecciiaall RReepprreesseennttaattiivvee ooff tthheeSSeeccrreettaarryy-GGeenneerraall ffoorr RReeccoovveerryy aanndd GGoovveerrnnaanncceeJordan RRyan

CChhiieeff ooff PPuubblliicc IInnffoorrmmaattiioonnChristine BB. KKoerner

EEddiittoorr aanndd HHeeaadd ooff PPuubblliiccaattiioonnssMathew EElavanalthoduka

SSttaaffff WWrriitteerrssYuko MMaeda J. WWesley WWashington

DDeessiiggnn aanndd GGrraapphhiiccssPaddy DDefoxy IIlos, III

PPhhoottoossEric KKanalstein

PPuubblliisshheedd bbyy tthhee PPuubblliicc IInnffoorrmmaattiioonnOOffffiiccee,, UUnniitteedd NNaattiioonnss MMiissssiioonn iinnLLiibbeerriiaa

uunnmmiillffooccuuss@@uunnmmiill..oorrgg

Printed by Buck Press Ltd., Accra, Ghana

IN THIS ISSUE4 New Mind-Set, High Hopes6 Liberia Reborn8 Ready, Set, Go!

10 A New-look Cabinet12 Interview: Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas14 Women: “It’s Our Time!”15 Humanitarian Appeal Launched17 Annan Appoints Sanctions Experts17 UNMIL to Help End Sanctions18 Photo Gallery20 Interview: Luiz Carlos da Costa22 Refugee Returns Surge24 Making Liberia Gun-Free25 Recruitment Begins for New Army26 Regaining the “Cuttington Edge”28 Classrooms Come Alive29 First Human Trafficking Case in Court 30 The TRC Constituted 32 Let’s Hear The Voice of Youth34 Safe Water Saves Lives35 Helping Victims of Leprosy36 Namibians Contribute to Peace37 Two Hours to Freetown39 Liberians Speak

With the inauguration ofPresident Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Liberia has begun anew chapter in its history.Although the new govern-ment faces daunting chal-lenges, Liberians today aredetermined to take their

The Economic Communityof West African States hasbeen a major actor inLiberia’s peace process.ECOWAS Executive

Liberian refugees are flock-ing back home as peaceprevails and democracytakes root in the war-rav-aged nation.

U.S. First Lady Laura Bushwas among dozens of dig-nitaries gracing the inaugu-ration of Africa’s first female

12

6

2218

country on the path ofpeace and democracy.

Secretary Dr. Ibn Chambasdiscusses the organiza-tion’s role in Liberia and theWest African region.

President.

Visit us at www.unmil.org


By MMathew EElavanalthoduka

Some call it a revolution. Only ahandful of countries in theworld have seen women risingto the pinnacle of leadership.This ultimate political privi-lege has eluded women even in many richand powerful countries boasting longyears of democracy and the belief in theballot.

The disbelief surrounding the electionof Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as Liberia’s pres-ident, and Africa’s first female president,is still very much in the air. Killed, raped,enslaved and abused, women and girls inLiberia have been among the most brutal-ized in the world for decades. They werethe principal victims of 14 years of blood-shed in the country. Can the rise of oneamong them to the pinnacle of their coun-try’s political leadership be any lessmomentous than a revolution?

That is a question many keep asking.But there are more questions. Can shedeliver? Can she help her country risefrom its ashes?

No one can envy the challenges facingPresident Johnson-Sirleaf as the leader ofwar-ravaged Liberia, literally reduced toashes with no electricity or running water,high illiteracy and unemployment, andtens of thousands of young, scalded menand women living on the margins of thesociety after surrendering their weapons.Many Liberians still remain in displacedcamps and refugee shelters in neighbour-ing countries. The unresolved conflict inCôte d’Ivoire, which shares a porous bor-der with Liberia, can potentially unravelthe nascent peace in the country.

Yet, Johnson-Sirleaf’s electrifyingspeech at her inauguration was proofenough that the Harvard-educated econo-mist is unfazed. “We will create the socialand economic opportunities that willrestore our people’s dignity and self-worth,” thundered the “Iron Lady,” soonafter recalling the inhumanity of confine-ment, the terror of attempted rape and theostracism of exile she had herself experi-enced in the past. Describing Liberians asa “strong and resilient” people, she exhort-ed them to come together “to heal andrebuild” the nation, regardless of their

political affiliations.The deep wounds that need healing

were inflicted by men as was the mindlessdestruction of the economy that now needsto be built from scratch. Liberians areupbeat about having Ma Ellen -- a grand-mother and a technocrat to boot -- to leadthe healing and rebuilding efforts in thecountry. “She’s our man,” they haddeclared during the electioneering, dis-pelling doubts about any perceived genderinadequacy of their new leader who onceworked as a waitress to support her educa-tion and later climbed career heights at theUN and the World Bank. No wonder manyLiberians look up to Johnson-Sirleaf, aformer finance minister known for herintegrity, as their saviour.

“Let us be proud that we were able toultimately rise above our intense politicaland other differences in a renewed deter-mination as a people to foster dialogueinstead of violence, promote unity ratherthan disharmony and engender hope ratherthan disillusionment and despair,” she saidat her inauguration. Words of inspirationfor a people who have witnessed nothingbut violence for more than a generation. A

NNEEWW MMIINNDD-SSEETT,,

HHIIGGHH HHOOPPEESS


wake-up call to a blighted continent thathas the largest concentration of dictatorslording over the poorest people in theworld.

Johnson-Sirleaf acknowledges theinternational community’s significantinvestment to bring peace to Liberia. Butshe knows only too well that the new-found peace cannot be consolidated andsustained without bringing development tothe people for which Liberia needs contin-ued international assistance.

Secretary-General Kofi Annan wasquick to recognize the “pressing chal-lenges” facing the country’s new post-waradministration. Congratulating the peopleof Liberia on the peaceful and transparentelections that handed down a “historicmandate” to Johnson-Sirleaf, he called onthe international community to assist thenew government to “consolidate itsauthority, build upon the stability estab-lished so far and deliver basic services tothe people.” Annan also assured Liberiacontinued support from the UnitedNations, which has deployed a 15,000-strong peacekeeping force in Liberia sinceOctober 2003 to help the country’s transi-tion from anarchy to peace.

“Our immediate priority will be toconsolidate peace and maintain security,”says the Secretary-General’s SpecialRepresentative Alan Doss, who heads thepeacekeeping mission that has disarmedover 100,000 combatants and helped con-duct the national elections that sawAfrica’s oldest republic making history bychoosing a woman as their leader. “I think

UN

Pho

to/M

ark

Gar

ten

“We hhave tto rretaina sstrong pprofile

and aa llarge footprint

in LLiberia uuntil the nnational

security iinstitutionsare rready

to ttake oover.”

- AAlan DDoss

“Iextend my warmest con-gratulations to EllenJohnson Sirleaf on herinauguration as Presidentof the Republic ofLiberia and Africa’s first elected womanHead of State. I also congratulate thepeople of Liberia who, through a peace-ful and transparent electoral process,have given Mrs. Johnson Sirleaf an his-toric mandate to lead the nation towardsa future of lasting peace and stability.

The establishment of a democratical-ly elected Government in Liberia bringsto a close the two year transitional periodstipulated in the Accra ComprehensivePeace Agreement of 18 August 2003. Icommend Charles Gyude Bryant for hisleadership of the National TransitionalGovernment of Liberia during the transi-tion period.

The new democratically electedGovernment faces a number of pressingchallenges, including restructuring thesecurity sector, strengthening economicgovernance, stimulating economicgrowth, strengthening the rule of law andthe protection of human rights, consoli-dating State authority throughout thecountry and re-establishing basic servic-es. In the face of these challenges, thepeople of Liberia are being given aunique opportunity to join together, tobuild a just and inclusive society, whichassures the participation of all people,

SECRETARY-GENERAL’S MESSAGE

irrespective of political or ethnic affilia-tion.

I call on the international communityto assist the new Government to consoli-date its authority, build upon the stabilityestablished so far and deliver basic serv-ices to the people. Allow me also toassure the new Government of the con-tinued support of the United Nationsfamily, as Liberia lays the foundation fora better future built on peace, stability,democracy and rule of law. Today, I wishall Liberians strength and courage in thework to rebuild a nation of which all itscitizens can be proud.”

we have to retain a strong profile and alarge footprint in Liberia until the nationalsecurity institutions are ready to takeover,” adds Doss, anxious to dispel wide-spread fear that the international commu-nity may prematurely abandon Liberiawithout consolidating stability that willencourage badly needed investment, tradeand economic opportunities.

No doubt Liberia’s resolve to tread thepath of peace and democracy has earnedthe country significant international good-will. Coupled with Ma Ellen at the helm,Liberians today are palpably optimistic,eager to bury the sad chapter in theirrecent history and smile again.

tions of creating a government that isattentive and responsive to your needs,your concerns and the development andprogress of our country,” she told the audi-ence amidst thunderous applause.

Minutes earlier, Johnson-Sirleaf, in acream dress and a matching headgear, hadplaced her hand on the Bible to take theoath while the cheering crowd greeted herwith shouts of “Queen of Africa!” Shewon the second round of presidential bal-lot in November, beating soccer legendGeorge Weah by a nearly 20 per cent lead,thus becoming the first female electedpresident of Liberia as well as Africa. The

UN-backed elections, which internationalobservers widely endorsed as free, fair andtransparent, marked a milestone in thepeace process that began with the ECOW-AS-brokered Comprehensive PeaceAccord in 2003 leading to the warring fac-tions surrendering their weapons after 14years of bloodshed.

“Your vote was a vote for change; avote for peace, security and stability; and avote for healing and leadership. We haveheard you loudly, and we humbly acceptyour vote of confidence and your man-date!” The powerful voice of the Harvard-educated former World Bank economist


On 16 January, Johnson-Sirleaf stood firm on thered carpet in the courtyardof the Capitol Hill toaddress the nation soonafter she was sworn in as Liberia’s 23rdPresident. As she walked to the podium,she broadly smiled at thousands of cheer-ing crowds—both international dignitariesand fellow Liberians—and for a momentlooked straight ahead to the ExecutiveMansion which houses her presidentialoffice before renewing her vow to lead thecountry’s taxing reconstruction work.

“We pledge to live up to your expecta-

AAmmiidd hhiigghh eexxppeeccttaattiioonnss ffoorr aa bbeetttteerr ffuuttuurree aanndd ggoooodd ggoovveerrnnaannccee,, LLiibbeerriiaa hhaass eenntteerreedd aa nneewweerraa aass EElllleenn JJoohhnnssoonn-SSiirrlleeaaff ttooookk tthhee PPrreessiiddeennttiiaall ooaatthh aass tthhee ccoouunnttrryy’’ss ffiirrsstt eelleecctteedd ffeemmaalleeHHeeaadd ooff SSttaattee iinn mmiidd-JJaannuuaarryy aanndd vvoowweedd ttoo ttaakkee tthhee wwaarr-rraavvaaggeedd nnaattiioonn ttoo ggrreeaatteerr hheeiigghhttss..FFaacceedd wwiitthh ddaauunnttiinngg cchhaalllleennggeess,, tthhee ppaatthh aahheeaadd iiss uunnqquueessttiioonnaabbllyy bbuummppyy,, bbuutt LLiibbeerriiaannss aarreeeeaaggeerr ttoo jjooiinn hhaannddss wwiitthh tthheeiirr iinntteerrnnaattiioonnaall ppaarrttnneerrss ttoo rreevviivvee tthhee 115588-yyeeaarr-oolldd rreeppuubblliicc,,YYuukkoo MMaaeeddaa rreeppoorrttss..

Liberia RReborn

HELLO EVERY ONEJohnson-Sirleaf arrives at the Capitol forher inauguration


met with loud cheers of “Yes!” and“Amen!”

The historic inauguration drew wideattention to the poverty-stricken WestAfrican country of some 3 million people,attracting quite a few Heads of State fromAfrica as well as high-ranking officialsfrom the world over to celebrate Liberia’ssingular moment in history. Among thedignitaries who attended the ceremonywere Nigerian President OlusegunObasanjo, Ghanaian President JohnKufuor and President Thabo Mbeki ofSouth Africa. Louise Fréchette, UN’sDeputy Secretary-General, and EuropeanUnion Commissioner Louis Michel alsojoined the ceremony. The presence ofAmerica’s First Lady Laura Bush andSecretary of State Condoleezza Rice signi-fied a renewal of Liberia’s long-standingspecial relations with the United States.

“I urge all of us to commit ourselves toa new era of democracy in Liberia,”Johnson-Sirleaf beseeched fellowLiberians. “In our new democracy, we willtolerate even if we disagree; we will co-exist even if we consider our neighbourunfriendly, and we will find commonground on the many vexing issues thatface our nation.”

Finding common ground is not an easyjob in a country where mistrust and greedprevail. Liberia’s modern history is filledwith ethnic hatred, violence and corrup-tion. Due to decades of political unrest andcivil strife, which came to an end justabout two and a half years ago, the coun-try is reduced to ashes with no electricityor running water in place, four out of fiveLiberians illiterate and unemployed andpublic institutions dysfunctional.

The challenges facing Liberia aretremendous. The country needs to restruc-ture the security sector, strengthen eco-nomic governance, create jobs, institutethe rule of law, protect human rights andre-establish basic public services, amongothers.

Liberia’s “Iron Lady”—also affection-ately called “Ma Ellen”—understands allof this and seeks whatever help she can getto meet the challenges. She called on hercountrymen and women to stand by her towork on national reconstruction, appealedto Liberians in the diaspora to return hometo join hands with their brothers and sis-

ters, and asked the international communi-ty to provide continuous support. Inexchange, she promised to make anaccountable, transparent governmentwhich is inclusive, attentive and free ofcorruption.

“It is time for us to come together toheal and rebuild our nation,” she told theaudience. “We must put Liberians back towork again and we must put our economyand financial house in order.”

In her well-constructed and compre-hensive inaugural speech, Johnson-Sirleafset the focus of her administration andmapped out the path on which she wouldlead the country. She vowed to fight cor-ruption, calling it the “number one publicenemy.” As a start, she promised the dis-closure of assets will be a prerequisite forpublic officials to take office. She set a tar-

get for her first 150 days in office -- attractUS$1 billion in foreign investment, ham-mer out a reconstruction plan to relieveLiberia of its debt burden and restore elec-tricity to Monrovia. She also assertedLiberia will no longer serve as fertileground for subversion in neighbouringcountries.

“Let us begin anew, moving forwardinto a future that is filled with hope andpromise!”

Blue, red and white buntings and bal-loons brightened up Monrovia’s rundownbuildings and pothole-ridden streets on theinauguration day. Cheerful Liberians incolourful attires took to the streets, danc-ing to the beat of drumming and wavingthe “Lone Star” national flag.

“I’m excited!” said Boima Gbee, ayoung man who spontaneously joined agroup of street performers on Monrovia’s

main street to celebrate the inauguration.“I’m very happy because it’s a new day forLiberia!” He said he took a day off and hadbeen on the street since early in the morn-ing to have a glimpse of Johnson-Sirleaftravelling the road to the Capitol Hill. Hebelieves her professional credentialswould guarantee international support anda better future for the country.

“She is capable of delivering what shepromised,” he said. “She has worked withall the UN, World Bank and other interna-tional institutions. She is not a novice, buta veteran in politics and development. Sheis up to the task.”

Like Gbee, thousands of Monroviansstood along the main streets for hours toshow their support to the new leader.Holding a portable radio and a Liberianflag, Augustine Sumu, a 21 year-old highschool student, walked hours to the out-side of the Capitol Hill to get a feel of thenational cerebration. Sumu was among4,000 youth who picked up brooms,spades and paintbrushes to clean up thecity prior to the inauguration. “The newpresident told us she would work hard tomake the country move forward. I believeshe can do it as she promised,” he beamed.

The jubilant atmosphere was areminder of how far the country has comein the past two years. During that period,the UN Mission in Liberia supportednational efforts to achieve the transition todemocracy by providing a secure environ-ment, disarming more than 100,000 ex-combatants, facilitating the return of tensof thousands of displaced persons andrefugees and helping organize the recentelections.

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annanhailed the inauguration of the first womanto lead an African nation. “I congratulatethe people of Liberia who, through apeaceful and transparent electoral process,have given Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf an his-toric mandate to lead the nation towards afuture of lasting peace and stability,” hesaid in his statement issued from NewYork. Calling on the international commu-nity to assist the new government to con-solidate its authority, he assured that theUN family will provide “the continuedsupport… as Liberia lays the foundationfor a better future built on peace, stability,democracy and rule of law.”

Joseph Boakai takes the oath ofoffice as Vice President


By YYuko MMaeda

Ayoung woman in a whitetunic and a turban sang inher native tongue whileethnic performers beat thedrums and played tradition-al musical instruments in the courtyard ofthe Executive Mansion that houses thepresidential office. Dressed in colourfulAfrican attires, clan chiefs from varioustribes across the country circled aroundnewly sworn-in President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and, one by one, surrendered to hertribal symbols of power—a fish net, awood carving mask and chickens.

“You are ‘Mother of Land!’” an elderdeclared while a hundred clan chiefs andother traditional leaders watched the cere-

monial rituals. “We, traditional leaders,hand over the power to rule our land toyou as the leader of this country!” Theelder then presented a chieftain dress toJohnson-Sirleaf to complete the power-succession ritual.

The century-old ritual broke one of themost crucial traditions: the ruling power,which has been passed on from men tomen for generations, was now bestowedon a female leader.

“We are happy to have her as ourleader,” said Asmana Kamara, the gover-nor of the Madingo tribe. “She is now themother of our land and allowed to lead thecountry. It’s not against our traditions. Wewill support her as much as we can.”

The ceremonial ritual mirrors a newwave of democracy, which has begun to

take root in Liberia. With Johnson-Sirleaftaking over the national leadership, mak-ing a historic debut as the first femaleelected Head of State in Africa, Liberiansand its international friends alike seemeager to participate in the nation-buildingefforts.

“We must have a new understanding,”Johnson-Sirleaf reminded fellowLiberians in her inaugural address inJanuary, urging them to work with her tocreate a better country. “Your job as a citi-zen is to work for your family and yourcountry. Your country’s only job is to workfor you!”

Youth groups were among the first tostand up to join the new idea of participa-tory democracy. Nearly 4,000 young peo-ple volunteered to clean up the city prior to

Ready, SSet, GGo !!

BROOMS, NOT BULLETSLiberian youths tidy up the Capital


the inauguration, which brought over 100international journalists to Monrovia eagerto report on Liberia’s miraculous transfor-mation to the rest of the world.

The youth volunteers, many of whomwielded guns during the civil conflict,removed more than 250 truckloads ofgarbage, brushed and painted roadsides,patched potholes and repainted manybuildings, bridges and road signs through-out Liberia’s capital. Three local youthgroups initially managed to gather only1,000 volunteers to join this “Youth inAction” initiative, but the number soonswelled to 4,000 young men and womenby the end of the 10-day exercise.

“You are the future of Liberia; you arethe ones who are going to stand up andtake this country forward,” Johnson-Sirleaf commended on their noble actwhile touring the city to thank the youth.

Liberians now living in other countriesare also keen to return home to take part inthe rebuilding of the ruined nation.Responding to a call by Johnson-Sirleaf,who appealed to overseas Liberians toreturn after acknowledging brain drain invarious fields as a serious issue, someexpatriates living abroad have joined the

new government as heads of office whileothers are seeking opportunities for invest-ments and professional practice.

Refugees who fled to neighbouringcountries to escape the civil war are alsocoming home. Within three weeks afterthe inauguration, around 3,000 refugees,mostly from Guinea and Sierra Leone,headed back home with the UN refugeeagency’s repatriation assistance. AsJohnson-Sirleaf has reassured her govern-ment would do all it could to assist them toresettle, a massive flow of the remaining187,000 registered refugees is expected inthe coming months.

Johnson-Sirleaf’s professional creden-tials in the area of development and hercommitment to creating an accountablegovernment seem to be encouragingLiberia’s international partners to comeforward to assist the new government in itsrebuilding efforts. Since her inauguration,the Executive Mansion has been receivingvisitors from international aid agencies,donor countries and major consultancyfirms on a daily basis.

The European Commission pledged inJanuary another US$82 million aid pack-age to Liberia for the next three years to

help develop infrastructure, the educationsector and governance while the largestdonor, the United States, currently sup-porting the restructuring of the country’ssecurity sector along with UNMIL, isseeking to funnel US$250 in aid for thecoming year.

The UN family is following suit. A vis-iting senior official of the World Bankrecently reiterated its irreversible commit-ment to Liberia’s reconstruction effortswith a number of “quick win” projects,especially in the area of road rehabilita-tion. The UN Development Fund forWomen, UNIFEM, pledged US$500,000to support the Ministry of Gender andDevelopment and women’s organizationsto promote gender equality. Alan Doss,head of the peacekeeping mission, alsoreassured that UNMIL will stay the courseto consolidate the achievements so far.

Although the challenges facing thecountry are immense, with the growingparticipation of Liberians, both domesticand overseas, and the support from itsinternational partners, Liberia’s newdemocracy looks set for a smooth take-off.

World BBank PPromises ““Quick WWin” PProjects

Committed to supportingLiberia’s reconstruction, theWorld Bank intends toimplement a number of“quick win” projects, a visit-ing senior World Bank official recentlytold representatives of the UN Mission inLiberia.

Robin Cleveland, Counsellor to WorldBank President Paul Wolfowitz, met withAlan Doss, Special Representative of theSecretary-General, and his deputy forRecovery and Governance, Jordan Ryan,during her three-day visit to Liberia in lateJanuary.

At the meeting, Cleveland reassuredUNMIL that the World Bank is committedto providing necessary assistance toPresident Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s govern-ment to carry out the national reconstruc-tion work with various “quick win” proj-

ects. So far, the Bank has targeted therehabilitation of roads as a priority toenable the government to focus on betterdelivery of public services to communi-ties.

Ryan, in turn, urged the Bank to con-sider debt relief for Liberia, the impover-ished war-ravaged country that needs totackle a national debt of US$3.5 billion,and scale up its assistance to support thenew government in improving the coun-try’s infrastructure. He also suggested thebank finance labour-intensive projects inorder to create more jobs, especially forLiberia’s youth. As four out of fiveLiberians nationwide are currently unem-ployed, such projects would curb the highunemployment rate, he said.

Cleveland’s visit came shortly afterJohnson-Sirleaf was sworn in as the firstfemale elected president of Liberia as well

as Africa. The senior official held consul-tative meetings with the new President andinternational partners including USAmbassador Donald Booth and represen-tatives of the European Commission andother development organizations.

In her meeting with Doss, the twoexchanged their views over the challengesfacing the new government and discussedstructural reform, the Governance andEconomic Management AssistanceProgramme and the rehabilitation of roadsacross the country.

During her short stay, Cleveland trav-elled to Margibi County and the southeast-ern cities of Barclayville and Harper. Shewas accompanied by Mats Karlsson, theBank’s Country Director for Liberia,Ghana and Sierra Leone, and Sarah Cliffe,the Programme Coordinator for LowIncome Countries under Stress.


By JJ. WWesley WWashington

Barely a day after taking theoath of office, PresidentEllen Johnson-Sirleaf begannaming her cabinet team aswell as officials of variousministries and parastatals. Liberians andthe donor community have been anxiouslywaiting for the line-up of the new admin-istration to see whether Johnson-Sirleafwill stick to her pre-election stance -- thather government will not be a repeat of pastgovernments and that anyone selected toserve in her cabinet will have to pass threebasic tests: integrity, competence and agood human rights record.

One of the earliest appointments, thatof George W. Wallace, Jr. as Minister ofForeign Affairs, eloquently delivered themessage Liberians have been waiting tohear. Wallace, a career diplomat, lawyerand administrator, is one of Liberia’s mostcelebrated diplomats, having joined thethen Department of State in 1954 as a

cadet and rising through the ranks. Hisdiplomatic route had seen all the importantport of calls in Africa and elsewhere in theworld, including the Court of St. Jamesand the United States. Just before hisappointment as the chief diplomat of thecountry he was a Senior Ambassador-at-Large.

At his confirmation hearing with theHouse of Senate Foreign RelationsCommittee recently, Wallace pledged tocombine his experience and expertiseacquired over the decades to restoreLiberia’s lost image on the world stage.“I’ll strive to strengthen our relations withother nations, especially our neighbors,and clearing the stigma of a failed state.Our challenging task is to break out of thering of alienation, regain our lost imageand restore international confidence andcredibility in our country,” he said.

Another highly acclaimed appoint-ment was that of Antoinette Sayeh as theFinance Minister. For many years,Liberia’s Ministry of Finance has been


Liberia’s new 94-member bi-cameral Legislature recentlyelected its leadership afteran initial tussle over transferof power from the NationalTransitional Legislative Assembly(NTLA), which was cobbled together aspart of the 2003 Comprehensive PeaceAgreement. A Joint Session at CapitolBuilding, the seat of the Legislature,agreed on the Acting Speaker of theNTLA inducting the new members andsubsequently conducting leadership elec-tions.

A NEW-LOOK

Legislators ChoThe elections, held on 13 January, a

few days before the Presidential inaugura-tion, threw up some surprises.

Montserrado County’s District No. 5Representative Edwin Snowe, former son-in-law of Liberia’s ex-president CharlesTaylor, was elected Speaker of the 64-member House of Representatives.According to the Constitution, the Speakerranks third in the government. In the eventof both the President and Vice Presidentbeing unable to function as President ofLiberia, the Speaker of the House ofRepresentatives takes over.

Grand Gedeh County Senior SenatorIsaac Nyenebo, a former advisor and

Secretary-General of the rebel groupLiberians United for Reconciliation andDemocracy (LURD), which fought againstthe Taylor government from 1999 to 2003,was elected Senate President Pro Tempore.On the ticket of the National DemocraticParty of Liberia (NDPL), he won the elec-tion with a single vote, 15 to 14 with oneabstention, over his contender Grand KruCounty Senior Senator Cletus Wotorson, apresidential candidate during the 1997elections.

Representative Snowe, an independentcandidate, defeated Montserrado County’sDistrict No. 4 Representative and long-time political activist, Dusty Wolokollie of

Antoinette Sayeh

CABINET

J. W

esle

y W

ashi

ngto

n


oose LeadershipUnity Party, by 48 to 13 votes.

“We want to inform the President-electat this time that this body, in the interest ofLiberia, will work hand in hand for thebetterment of our people,” the newly elect-ed Speaker told reporters following hiswin. Snowe is one of four newly electedlegislators who are on a United NationsSecurity Council Travel Ban and AssetsFreeze List for “on-going ties with ex-president Charles Taylor.”

Recently, the UN enforced the ban onSnowe and three of his colleagues –Taylor’s former wife, Jewel HowardTaylor, and two former rebel commanders,Adolphus Dolo and Kai Farley – by stop-

ping them from travelling to Ghana toattend a World Bank-sponsored trainingsession for members of Liberia’s new leg-islature.

When asked how he will function inlight of a travel ban, Snowe said, “We willengage the international community con-structively and give reasons why we thinkthey should lift the ban. I will be appealingto them for the good of Liberia to promotetrue democracy in Liberia and that we areprepared to work for peace and stability inLiberia, the sub-region and the world.”

The new Speaker came to politicallimelight as head of the youth wing of ex-president Taylor’s National Patriotic Party.

Snowe represented the power-sharingtransitional government as ManagingDirector of the Liberia Petroleum RefineryCompany, while President Pro TemporeNyenebo was Liberia’s Comptroller-General in the Ministry of Finance.

For the position of Deputy Speaker,Bong County’s Representative for DistrictNo. 5, Thomas Mulbah of the Congress forDemocratic Change (CDC), emerged vic-torious against three others with 38 votes.Nimba County’s Nohn Kidau of COTOLcame second with 13 votes.

considered to be a symbol of entrenchedcorruption and mismanagement. Bychoosing Sayeh, the second femaleFinance Minister in the country, to headthe critical finance portfolio, Johnson-Sirleaf seemed keen to offer Liberians aclean and accountable government in linewith her branding corruption as “enemynumber one.” Sayeh comes to the job with

extensive experience working at the WorldBank in financial, capacity building andeconomic development areas. She onceserved as the World Bank’s CountryDirector in Togo, Niger and Benin.

Equipped with a Ph. D. in Internationaland Development Economics and a Masterof Law and Diplomacy, International andDevelopment Economics, both fromFletcher School, Tufts University, in theUS state of Massachusetts, Sayeh looks setto rid corruption from the corridors of thegovernment. She termed corruption as “aneconomic crime” but reminded Liberiansthat it would take more than the govern-ment alone to fight the vice. “The problemof corruption should be tackled by allLiberians. Giving better remuneration tocivil servants is one of the ways of fightingcorruption,” she said.

The reappointment of Vabah KazakuGayflor as the Minister of Gender andDevelopment reflects the importance thenew administration attaches to gender-related issues. Liberia’s women have beenthe principal victims of the civil war butthey have lately become a strong politicalforce demanding their voices to be heard.Gayflor served the National Transitionalgovernment in the same capacity and hasbeen a vocal campaigner for the advance-ment of women’s rights.

With the appointments of personalitieswith impeccable credentials to her

Cabinet, Johnson-Sirleaf has raised the barof governance several notches higher.With bad governance cited as one of theroot causes of the country’s devastatingcivil wars, long-suffering Liberians aretoday looking up to the new president fora transparent and accountable governmentthat will use the country’s rich resourcesfor the benefit of its citizens.

Vabah Gayflor

George W. Wallace, Jr.

J. W

esle

y W

ashi

ngto

n

TThhee 1155-mmeemmbbeerr rreeggiioonnaall oorrggaanniizzaattiioonn,, tthhee EEccoonnoommiicc CCoommmmuunniittyy ooff WWeesstt AAffrriiccaann SSttaatteess((EECCOOWWAASS)),, hhaass bbeeeenn iinn tthhee ffoorreeffrroonntt ooff tthhee qquueesstt ffoorr ppeeaaccee iinn LLiibbeerriiaa ffrroomm tthhee vveerryy bbeeggiinn-nniinngg ooff tthhee cciivviill ccoonnfflliicctt tthhaatt bbeeggaann iinn 11998899.. EECCOOWWAASS iiss aallssoo aaccttiivveellyy iinnvvoollvveedd iinn eeffffoorrttss ttoobbrriinngg ttoo aann eenndd ccoonnfflliiccttss rraaggiinngg iinn ootthheerr ppaarrttss ooff WWeesstt AAffrriiccaa.. TThhee EExxeeccuuttiivvee SSeeccrreettaarryy ooffEECCOOWWAASS,, DDrr.. MMoohhaammeedd IIbbnn CChhaammbbaass,, wwaass aammoonngg tthhee ddiiggnniittaarriieess wwhhoo fflleeww iinn ttoo wwiittnneesssstthhee iinnaauugguurraattiioonn ooff PPrreessiiddeenntt EElllleenn JJoohhnnssoonn-SSiirrlleeaaff,, ffoolllloowwiinngg ppeeaacceeffuull aanndd ddeemmooccrraattiicceelleeccttiioonnss aass ppaarrtt ooff tthhee CCoommpprreehheennssiivvee PPeeaaccee AAggrreeeemmeenntt bbrrookkeerreedd bbyy tthhee oorrggaanniizzaattiioonn iinn22000033.. IInn aann iinntteerrvviieeww wwiitthh EEddiittoorr MMaatthheeww EEllaavvaannaalltthhoodduukkaa,, hhee ddiissccuusssseess tthhee oorrggaanniizzaattiioonn’’ssrroollee iinn tthhee rreeggiioonn,, tthhee iissssuuee ooff CChhaarrlleess TTaayylloorr aanndd tthhee eelluussiivvee ppeeaaccee iinn CCôôttee dd’’IIvvooiirree..

Liberia has found peace and democra-cy but it is still very precarious, still veryfragile because Liberia has also inheritedhuge problems - a total collapse of state,security, public and financial sector insti-tutions. All these need to be reconstructed.There are huge social problems because ofthe breakdown of economic and socialinfrastructure - children have not been toschool for many years, health sector is inruins, roads are destroyed. We also need torebuild the army.

Liberia needs the continued engage-ment, particularly of ECOWAS and cer-


What role did ECOWAS play in bring-ing peace to Liberia?

ECOWAS has been engaged in thesearch for peace in Liberia from the veryoutbreak of civil war in December 1989.ECOWAS sought mediation between therebel groups and then government ofPresident Doe by calling the first meetingsbetween the two sides in Freetown, SierraLeone. When all peaceful means failed atthat initial phase and the conflict escalat-ed, ECOWAS went a step further by intro-ducing an inter-positional force - ECO-MOG - to be a separation force betweenthe government and the rebels while main-taining the political and diplomatic efforts.It was entirely a West African initiativefunded by member states who volunteeredtroops and paid for those troops to come in[followed by] the UN and the internation-al community down the line in conductingthe elections that brought Charles Taylorto power.

The expectation then was that durablepeace would return to Liberia but we nowknow what happened. When the secondcivil war started with the attacks from theLURD rebels and later MODEL, ECOW-AS once again took the initiative to startthe peace process that led to, first and fore-most, the departure of Mr. Taylor, theintroduction of another ECOWAS force,ECOMIL, which was transformed intoUNMIL.

Of course this was going parallel witha political and diplomatic initiative whichled to the signing in Accra of the

Comprehensive Peace Accord under theChairmanship of President John Kufour ofGhana who was Chairman of ECOWAS.All Liberian stakeholders – former gov-ernment of Liberia, the rebel groups, civilsociety, religious groups, women’s groups– came together and fashioned out theagreement which has brought us to thishappy end. ECOWAS has remained amajor player, a very dependable partner ofthe Liberian people.

How can ECOWAS help Liberia sustainthe new found peace and democracy?

ON THE CARPET: DR. MOHAMED IBN CHAMBAS

“DEFEND Peace Jealously...”M

athe

w E

lava

nalth

oduk

a


tainly the wider international community.That’s why we will stay to work veryclosely with the new government. We willkeep the ECOWAS office open here toaccompany the government in thisHerculean task of post-conflict reconstruc-tion.

Nigeria has been under immense pres-sure to hand over Charles Taylor to theSpecial Court in Sierra Leone. What isECOWAS’ position on this issue?

The position of ECOWAS has beenthat the issue of Mr. Taylor should be putin the right context. It’s an internationallynegotiated agreement which took Mr.Taylor to Nigeria and in fact we should bevery grateful to Nigeria for accepting Mr.Taylor and for bringing in the first two bat-talions which maintained some level ofstability that allowed the peace process totake off. ECOWAS certainly does notbelieve that Nigeria should be harassed onthe issue of Mr. Taylor.

The other factor we should take intoaccount is that the new government inLiberia should be given time and space. Itwould be very unfair to put huge pressureon this new government over a very poten-tially destabilizing issue such as of Mr.Taylor. The ECOWAS position is a prag-matic one so we can consolidate this frag-ile peace which we are trying to build herein Liberia, providing this new governmentall the support it needs without burdeningit initially with a very difficult politicaland diplomatic issue such as that of Mr.Taylor.

The time is not ripe to immediatelyraise this issue with the new governmentor to put unnecessary pressure on it whenit should be concentrating its efforts in theinitial period on forming the government,trying to get institutions functioning, try-ing to address urgent questions on criticalsectors of the population such as the youthand former combatants who have not beenproperly integrated, in trying to build anew armed forces.

So you’re saying that Charles Taylorshould be left to enjoy his freedom?

I did not say that. I’m not talking aboutMr. Taylor enjoying his freedom. WhatI’m saying is that, first, Nigeria should notbe harassed on the issue of Mr. Taylor.Nigeria fulfilled its part of an internationalarrangement and we ought to be thankful

to Nigeria for accepting to host him.Second, the new government needs somespace and time, and in my judgment it isnot good to put a lot of pressure on it whenit has many immediate and pressing prob-lems.

The continued impasse in Côted’Ivoire’s peace process is a threat tosustaining the fragile peace in Liberiaand Sierra Leone. What is the involve-ment of ECOWAS in Côte d’Ivoire?

ECOWAS is deeply involved in thesearch for peace in Côte d’Ivoire. We werethe first to move in there when troublestarted brewing. It is the second biggesteconomy in West Africa, was a major pil-lar of stability in the region, and we wouldlike to see Côte d’Ivoire overcome thisproblem very quickly.

ECOWAS, of course, is responsible forvarious ceasefires. We negotiated bringingan end to the fighting between the govern-ment forces and the New Forces (ForcesNouvelle). We have been involved inpeace talks and negotiations. Right nowwe are part of the current initiative whichstarted with the ECOWAS Summit on 30September 2005 that came out with thenew framework for UN Resolution 1643.

We have an office in Côte d’Ivoiretracking the peace process. We are playingthe facilitating role, trying to get all theIvorians to work together in a governmentof national unity under the new PrimeMinister Konan Banney to take the coun-try out of the civil crisis.

In what ways can Liberia benefit fromthe New Partnership for AfricanDevelopment, NEPAD?

NEPAD is a framework for Africandevelopment, to ensure that there isdemocracy, good governance, peace, sta-bility and economic development. Liberiacan work to ensure that this new peace isdefended, the new stability is consolidatedwithin the context of good governance,democracy and transparency, fighting cor-ruption, all the things that President EllenJohnson-Sirleaf has committed herself to.

It is clear to me that she’s positioningLiberia to play an active role in theNEPAD framework and I think that thereare very bright prospects for Liberia inmoving forward. We will bring Liberia onboard of all the programmes and projectsrelated to NEPAD the country was not

involved in the past because of the conflictin order to quickly enable Liberia benefitfully.

Now that Liberia has moved away fromconflict and has embraced democracyand peace, what message do you havefor the people of Liberia?

Liberia should defend very jealouslythis newly won peace and democracy.Peace is essential for sustainable develop-ment and fighting poverty, for achievingany level of progress and prosperity.

Liberians have learnt their lesson, Iwould like to believe. They know the pain,the suffering that war can bring and hasbrought to their country. I’ll urge them tobe determined to ensure that never againwould they allow their country to gothrough the kind of destruction, the suffer-ing and pain they have endured.

Additionally, we need to really show astrong commitment to the country, devel-op it, help bring about an end to theextreme levels of poverty which we nowsee.

The other thing I would like to remindLiberians is that 20 years ago, this countryenjoyed a per capita income of close toUS$1,000. So it has been done before; it isdoable and they should get themselvesshaped up so that they realize their fullpotential. There is no reason why thiscountry should be in the shape which it isin.

What progress has been achieved inrelation to the setting up of a standbymilitary force by ECOWAS?

ECOWAS, within the context of anAfrican standby force, has developed thestrategy for a brigade -- 6,500 soldierswho can be deployed initially. We’ve goneas far as finding the headquarters of thisbrigade and various positions have alreadybeen assigned to member states. TheHastings Airfield has been handed over bythe government of Sierra Leone toECOWAS to use as a base for a logisticsdepot.

We enjoy very good support from anumber of bilateral partners – US, UK,France, primarily – but also a lot of techni-cal support from the UN system. We havereceived very good cooperation from UN’sDepartment of Peacekeeping Operationsin the development of the concepts for thestandby force.


By YYuko MMaeda

Never before have women inLiberia -- and Africa -- feltso proud of their gender.President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s dramatic debut asthe first female elected Head of State onthe African continent has electrifiedwomen, boosting their self-esteem andinspiring their collective advancement.

“So many of you have been with me inthis long road to victory,” Johnson-Sirleaftold more than 250 women from aroundthe globe who had gathered at a women’sforum at Liberia’s Ministry of Gender andDevelopment one afternoon in January.“We shared misery with you. We sharedstruggle with you. We shared agony withyou. Today, we can say: ‘Our time hascome.’”

“Our time” meant women’s time. It’sthe time for women to feel valued andrespected; the time to lead the country anddecide on the path it takes. Women inAfrica, particularly in Liberia, have longbeen marginalised in society for centuries.They were left out of the decision-makingprocess that affects their lives.Discriminated against in a male-dominat-ed society, they were restricted to child-bearing and home-making roles for gener-ations. Much worse, during the decades ofpolitical unrest and civil strife, womenwere so often subjected to physical vio-lence, gang rape and sexual slavery.

Ironically, that was the time Liberianwomen rose up from a child-bearer andhomemaker to be the head of the house-hold and the community. As men foughtand killed, women became a symbol ofsurvival. They needed to find food to feedthe family. They needed to find shelter tolet the children feel secure and a way tosupport each other to survive. When thewar intensified in 2002, they stood up tobecome crusaders and mobilised thou-sands of women for peace prayers acrossthe country.

Now that peace prevails, womendemand to be part of the country’s recon-

struction efforts. They want to heal thewounds of war and mend the broken soci-ety. They also want to be nation-buildersbeyond their role as peacemakers.

“Because women have long sufferedtoo much, this time around we need ourrights back,” says Ester Kettor, a mother offive who took part in the women’s peacemovement and every week joined its masssit-in-action on the field near the FishMarket in Monrovia to pray for peace. Thesit-in peace action lasted for the past twoyears and ended last December. She nowhopes Johnson-Sirleaf, a symbol ofwomen’s achievement, supports women’scollective dream to come true. “I hope shewill make our children go to school, getour husbands have a job and get paid andhelp women to work hard. We’re ready tojoin her for that.” That is a sentimentshared by most of Liberia’s women today.

“We were waiting for too long to havea female president in Africa. Now we’vegot Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf!”exclaimed Aminita Bangaur Ndiaya,Senegal’s former Minister of Gender and amember of the Pan-African WomenParliament, at the women’s forum. Shesaid Johnson-Sirleaf’s election opened thelong-closed door for women to play aleadership role and it was time for womento consolidate all the efforts to securewomen’s advancement. “She needs all sol-idarity from all women from the Africancontinent.”

Vabah Gaylor, Minister for Gender andDevelopment, who has retained her posi-tion in the new government, hopesJohnson-Sirleaf’s election is a beginningof the gender-mainstreaming movement at

international, national and grassroots lev-els. “We won’t stop at the victory ofMadam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf,” she said atthe opening of the forum. “We will makesure it will translate into social, economic,political and cultural advancement ofwomen in the region.”

At the grassroots level, Liberianwomen have started reinforcing their net-work to mainstream women in politics anddevelopment. The Women NGOsSecretariat of Liberia, an umbrella body ofnearly 200 women’s groups across thecountry, has recently reorganised its struc-ture to help each group become moreactive and effective. With technical sup-port and funding from UNMIL’s Office ofGender Advisor, they are now making astrategic plan, developing its constitutionand creating new programmes to build thecapacity of women so that they can advo-cate their rights and make women’s con-cerns reflected in the government’s agen-da.

“We have to have an effective organi-zation to advocate the newly elected pres-ident to keep her promises,” says EtwedaCooper, former Acting Chairman of theSecretariat who stepped down to be anadvisor to the President.

As Liberian women resolutely battlefor their rights and strive for a better soci-ety, Johnson-Sirleaf vows to be their rolemodel. “We’ll do what we can to makewomen proud; we’ll do what we can tomake women excel; and we’ll do what wecan to make women follow my foot step,so that a decade from now, there are manyMadam Presidents!”

WWoommeenn:: ““IItt’’ss OOuurr TTiimmee!!””

PEACEMAKERSWomen converge in support of peace


of IDPs and refugees that remain in campsthat need to come home and restart theirlives.”

Although he acknowledged that thegap between humanitarian assistance anddevelopment is not easily bridged, heexpects this appeal to be “the last majorhumanitarian appeal for Liberia because itis time to move forward on to recoveryand development.”

The Consolidated Appeal for Liberiaoutlines the assessment of needs in varioussectors and detailed activities each of the29 humanitarian actors plans for this year.The funding will cover 84 projects alto-gether, from water sanitation to educationto ex-combatants’ reintegration, with 25projects in the health sector followed by16 projects in agriculture.

In the health sector, for example, anumber of UN agencies and NGOs willwork on polio immunization, reproductivehealth education and the revitalization ofprimary health care services, among oth-ers. In the agriculture sector, the UN agri-culture agency FAO plans to provide seedsand agricultural tools to returnees, ex-combatants and war-affected farmers innine counties, build community-basedextension capacity in 73 districts aroundthe country and develop a National FoodSecurity and Nutrition Strategy.

The refugee agency UNHCR isrequesting US$51 million -- the largestamount -- to help people return to theirhomes. Out of this, US$37 million wouldbe used for assisting over 16,000 Sierra

Leonean and Ivorian refugees living inLiberia, repatriating about 100,000Liberian refugees from neighbouringcountries and reintegrating and protectingthe returnees, according to the appeal. Therest of the money would be spent for assis-tance activities to 260,000 IDPs.

“We, the humanitarian community,count on donor support to implement theseprojects to respond to ongoing urgentneeds of the Liberian people,” said AngelaKearney, head of the children’s agencyUNICEF. She noted the money donatedwill not be channelled through the localgovernment but go directly to implement-ing organizations.

Per Bjerre, representative of theMonitoring and Steering Group, anumbrella body of 52 international NGOsin Liberia, fully supported theConsolidated Appeal process to cordinatehumanitarian activities here and urgeddonors to pledge generously.

The appeal is part of the global 2006Humanitarian Appeal of US$4.7 billionfor 18 locations worldwide, launched byUN Secretary-General Kofi Annan on 30November last year. Sudan is the largestrequesting country with an appeal ofUS$1.5 billion while the Republic ofCongo asking US$30.5 million is thesmallest. The process of the ConsolidatedAppeal is the international community’smost important tool for raising financialresources for humanitarian action and pro-vides a unified framework for a strategicresponse to humanitarian needs.

By YYuko MMaeda

Liberia’s humanitarian actorslaunched early December anappeal for US$121 million tofund humanitarian aid pro-grammes such as immuniza-tion, food assistance and school rehabilita-tion for the next 12 months as the countrytreads the path of recovery and develop-ment.

The UN family in Liberia, the transi-tional government -- predecessor toPresident Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s govern-ment -- and humanitarian partners consol-idated the financial requirements to carryout their activities across the country tomeet humanitarian needs through 2006,and made the joint appeal for funding.

The money is needed to provide basicsocial services and protection to vulnera-ble populations, including those affectedby HIV/AIDS, refugees and internally dis-placed persons (IDPs), revitalize commu-nities and strengthen the capacity of localauthorities to support the recoveryprocess, the humanitarian actors said.

“Liberia has made tremendousprogress in the political, security, socialand the humanitarian fronts despite themany problems. But it is far too early todeclare victory and just leave,” said AlanDoss, the UN Special Representative ofthe Secretary-General and Coordinator ofUN Operations in Liberia, at the launch.“Humanitarian support is still urgentlyneeded. There are hundreds of thousands

Humanitarian Appeal Launched

Jose

phin

e G

uerr

ero


Afew days before President EllenJohnson-Sirleaf was inaugurated,Liberia’s long suffering childrenreceived a shot in the arm with the govern-ment of Japan contributing US$2.25 mil-lion to the United Nations Children's Fund(UNICEF) in Liberia to protect the coun-try’s young population from infectious dis-eases, including malaria and acute respira-tory infections.

"We are very grateful to the govern-ment of Japan for their continued commit-ment to assist Liberia's vulnerable chil-dren," said UNICEF LiberiaRepresentative Angela Kearney, who rep-resented the United Nations agency at anExchange of Notes ceremony, held at theEmbassy of Japan in Accra, Ghana. "Thisgenerous contribution will make an enor-mous difference in helping Liberia'sMinistry of Health and Social Welfare andother UNICEF key partners protect hun-dreds of thousands of children from malar-ia, acute respiratory infections, measles

and diarrhea." UNICEF will use Japan's contribution

to strengthen health facilities in sevenfocus counties -- Bomi, Bong, GrandGedeh, Lofa, Maryland, Montserrado, andNimba -- and the impact is estimated toincrease immunization coverage from 70per cent to 90 per cent.

The funding is targeted to provide theExpanded Programme of Immunization(EPI) services to more than 450,000Liberian children and training and suppliesto strengthen the capacity of health careworkers at the community level to treatand prevent childhood illnesses. To protectchildren from malaria, long lasting insecti-cide-treated bed nets will be distributed toevery child under the age of 5 and to allpregnant women in Lofa, Grand Gedeh,and Maryland counties. Pregnant womenin the three counties will also be targetedto receive two-doses of the ant-malarialdrug sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine.

"These three counties were badly dam-

Japanese Donation Benefits Liberian Children

The United Nations DevelopmentFund for Women (UNIFEM)announced in January a pledge of$500,000 to Liberia while congratulatingthe country on the inauguration of its newPresident, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, the firstfemale to head an African nation. Themoney will be used to support Liberia’sMinistry of Gender and Development andwomen’s organisations that promote gen-der equality and peace in the country.Liberian women have borne the brunt of

The European Commission (EC)announced in January a financialassistance package worth Euros68.4 million (US$ 82 million) to supportthe new post-war government in its recov-ery and development efforts for the nextthree years.

“As we all know, the challenges facingMs. Johnson-Sirleaf are immense. Wehave to rise to them together, by steppingup the cooperation we began after the

aged during Liberia's 14-year civil war andare now areas that are expected to have ahigh return of displaced population andrefugees," said Japan's Ambassador toGhana, Masamichi Ishikawa."Consequently, my government is partner-ing with UNIICEF to help provide basichealth care services to people who needsupport and protection as they work torebuild their homes and communities."

"The major cause of morbidity inLiberian children under age 5 is malaria,"said Yoshiteru Uramoto, Director ofUNICEF's Country Office in Japan. "Useof treated nets has been shown to reducedeaths from malaria by about one quarter.In addition to reducing maternal morbidi-ty, pregnant women's use of treated netshelps protect infant health, as malaria con-tributes significantly to low birth weight.That's a major reason why the governmentof Japan's contribution will make such acritical difference in saving young lives inLiberia.”

the protracted civil war in the country asvictims of rape, assault and enslavement.Some of them were forced take upweapons on behalf of one rebel faction oranother.

“UNIFEM is proud to have supportedthe Ministry of Gender and Development,and women's organisations throughoutLiberia to reach this truly historic achieve-ment," said Noeleen Heyzer, the Fund’sexecutive director, who attended the inau-guration.

UN Fund Pledges $500,000Vabah Gayflor, Liberia’s reappointed

Minister of Gender and Development,paid tribute to UNIFEM's long history ofworking with Liberian women. “Theystood with us when we were mobilizing tosupport women's candidacy and leadershipin the parliamentary and presidential elec-tions.”

UNIFEM said it will mobilize its part-ners to respond to Liberia’s priorities inpromoting gender equality.

peace agreement was signed," said LouisMichel, European Commissioner forDevelopment and Humanitarian Aid.

The financial assistance from theEuropean Commission, among the largestdonors to Liberia, will help revive electric-ity and water supplies, and will also sup-port the country’s health and educationsectors that had been badly hit by the pro-longed civil war.

A key player in Liberia’s development,

the EC has provided the country overEuros 186.5 million (US$ 224 million)since the signing of the ComprehensivePeace Agreement in 2003. Disarmament,Demobilization, Rehabilitation andReintegration (DDRR) programmes, foodsecurity operations and rural developmentprogrammes are among the areas that havebenefited from European Commission’sassistance to the war-ravaged nation.

European Commission Offers Aid


areas, he noted.Van Bockstael, who originated the

global certificate scheme for diamonds,underlined the importance of carrying outa geological assessment in Liberia andputting in place the tracking and internalcontrol system which would also preventdiamonds smuggled from other countriesfrom passing through Liberia.

The KPCS delegation was in Liberiato help the government meet the bench-marks for compliance and eventual mem-bership with the scheme, a necessary stepto lift the UN Security Council sanctionson the export of Liberian rough diamonds.The sanctions have been in place since2001 and are reviewed by the SecurityCouncil every six months, most recentlyon 20 December.

In late January, United NationsSecretary-General Kofi Annanappointed a five-member Panel ofExperts to monitor the renewedsanctions regime the SecurityCouncil imposed on Liberia after receiv-ing reports that the West African country’snatural resources were not being used tobenefit its people.

The latest Panel of Experts comprisesArthur Gregory Blundell of Canada asChairman, Damien Callamand of France,Caspar Fithen of the United Kingdom,Tommy Garnett of Sierra Leone andRajiva Bhushan Sinha of India.

In December 2005 the SecurityCouncil renewed the sanctions it had firstimposed on Liberia in May 2001 andwhich now include timber, travel, armsand diamond embargoes. The Council alsore-established the Panel of Experts to con-duct follow-up assessments of the sanc-tions and said it would review the meas-ures, with a view to ending them, at therequest of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s new government.

The Council welcomed the determina-tion of President Johnson-Sirleaf to meetits conditions and has encouraged her gov-ernment to implement reforms, especially

in the management of the country’s timberand diamond resources.

The Council initially approved theLiberian sanctions after determining thatformer President Charles Taylor’s govern-ment had helped the rebel RevolutionaryUnited Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone fightagainst the government there during thecountry’s brutal decade-long civil war.

In 2003, citing Liberia’s “active sup-port” of rebel groups which were having adestabilizing effect on West Africa, theCouncil renewed and expanded the sanc-tions, and decided the measures wouldremain in effect until peace was main-tained, export transparency was estab-

The Head of the UnitedNations Mission in Liberia,Alan Doss, meanwhile, hascalled on the internationalcommunity to work with thecountry’s government to pave the way forthe lifting of the sanctions banning dia-mond exports by putting in place the nec-essary mechanisms.

“Liberians are anxious to get the sanc-tions lifted so that people are not deprivedof a legitimate source of income,” he saidafter meeting Mark Van Bockstael, thefounding chair of the Kimberley ProcessCertification Scheme (KPCS) WorkingGroup of Diamond Experts, and LeslieWright, a KPCS consulting geologist. Themeeting took place in Monrovia earlyFebruary.

Expressing his appreciation for the

AAnnnnaann AAppppooiinnttss SSaannccttiioonnss EExxppeerrttss

efforts made by the Kimberly Process inLiberia, Doss said that UNMIL wouldcontinue to help the government by pro-viding air support for surveillance activi-ties in the mining areas. UNMIL is alsoprepared to assist the Land, Mines andEnergy Ministry in the mapping of mining

lished and the government controlled thenational forests.

A Panel of Experts appointed in July2005 to assess the implementation andimpact of the sanctions regime in Liberianoted that the requirements for lifting theembargo on Liberian rough diamonds andtimber had not been met. In addition,agreements reached on iron ore exportssuggested that Liberians could not rely ontheir government or on the internationalcommunity to protect their interests.Instead, it said, the country needed trans-parent business negotiations.

UN

Pho

to/E

van

Sch

neid

er

UUNNMMIILL ttoo HHeellpp EEnndd SSaannccttiioonnss

A French delegation arrives at RobertsInternational Airport

Airport arrival photos by Michal Broza/UNMIL

First Lady of the United States, Laura Bush, and daughter Barbaratouch down in Monrovia

Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo arrives

President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa, accompanied by his wife,flies in to join the inauguration of the first female Head of State inAfrica

IIIInnnnaaaauuuugggguuuurrrraaaattttiiiioooonnnn PPPP

President John Kufuor of Ghana is welcomed on arrival


US Secretary of State CondoleezzaRice and First Lady Laura Bush atthe Capitol

Soccer legend GeorgeWeah keenly follows theinauguration proceedings

Chief Justice Henry Cooper greetsthe audience

UN Deputy Secretary-General Louise Fréchetteflanked by Presidents Obasanjo and Mbeki

PPPPhhhhoooottttoooo GGGGaaaallll lllleeeerrrryyyy


Liberian National Police and UNMILCivilian Police conduct joint patrols regu-larly. Our target is to have a properlytrained and equipped police force of 3,500men and women who will uphold interna-tional policing standards and respect forhuman rights.

Simultaneously, we have also beenassisting Liberian authorities to rehabili-tate and reopen the dilapidated police sta-tions throughout the country. So far, 62police stations have been renovated andre-commissioned, covering all the 15counties in the country. With help fromUNMIL, UNICEF and NGOs, Liberianow has a Women and Children ProtectionUnit. This must be looked at against thefact that women and children constitutedthe most vulnerable segment of theLiberian society during the civil war.

However, Liberia’s national policeface severe restrictions, of resources,infrastructure, logistics and equipment. Amajority of police facilities are in a state ofdisrepair and the availability of basic

As the Secretary-General’s DeputySpecial Representative in Liberia, youare tasked to help improve the Rule ofLaw situation in a country that has justbegun recovering from a prolonged civilstrife. What are the major challenges inthis area?

There has been a total collapse of lawenforcement agencies in Liberia during the14 years of civil war, so the challenges toreintroduce respect for Rule of Law in thecountry are immense. Courts didn’t work,law enforcers themselves had become law-breakers, might was right. It was like aHobbesian scenario.

UNMIL is currently involved inrestructuring and reforming the police andrehabilitating the judicial and correctionssystems. We are also in the forefront ofprotecting and promoting human rights inaddition to our efforts to help Liberiastamp out gender-based violence and dis-crimination.

How is UNMIL helping rebuild a pro-fessional police in Liberia?

UNMIL’s mandate includes building aprofessional, well-trained police force inLiberia as part of a broad security sectorreform. We began the training programme

for a new police force in July 2004 at thenewly reopened National Police Academyin Paynesville, Monrovia. More than2,000 police recruits have so far under-gone training and the majority of them arealready deployed throughout the country.These newly trained police played a sig-nificant part in maintaining security duringthe recent elections. We continue monitor-ing and mentoring them. Members of the

“Rule of Law FacesImmense Challenges…”

ON THE CARPET: LUIZ CARLOS DA COSTA

DDeeppuuttyy SSppeecciiaall RReepprreesseennttaattiivvee ooff tthhee SSeeccrreettaarryy-GGeenneerraall LLuuiizzCCaarrllooss ddaa CCoossttaa,, aa vveetteerraann ooff sseevveerraall UUNN ppeeaacceekkeeeeppiinnggmmiissssiioonnss,, iiss iinn cchhaarrggee ooff OOppeerraattiioonnss aanndd RRuullee ooff LLaaww ddoocckk-eettss aatt UUNNMMIILL.. IInn aann iinntteerrvviieeww wwiitthh EEddiittoorr MMaatthheewwEEllaavvaannaalltthhoodduukkaa,, hhee ddiissccuusssseess tthhee cchhaalllleennggeess ffaacciinngg LLiibbeerriiaaiinn rreeiinnttrroodduucciinngg rreessppeecctt ffoorr tthhee RRuullee ooff LLaaww aafftteerr sseevveerraallyyeeaarrss ooff cciivviill ssttrriiffee,, UUNNMMIILL’’ss eeffffoorrttss ttoo nnuurrttuurree aa ccuullttuurree ooffhhuummaann rriigghhttss iinn tthhee ccoouunnttrryy aanndd tthhee rroollee tthhee TTrruutthh aannddRReeccoonncciilliiaattiioonn CCoommmmiissssiioonn ccaann ppllaayy iinn hheeaalliinngg tthhee wwoouunnddssooff wwaarr..



requirements and supplies is minimal.

Security sector reform also has anoth-er critical component - that of restructur-ing and rebuilding a new armed forces forLiberia. A professionally trained army thatwill be fully subjected to civilian control.We are still in the early stages of therestructuring and rebuilding of the army,but the United States has taken the lead inthis area and committed the badly neededfunds for this.

Liberia is a country where humanrights have been trampled upon formany years, where only jungle laws pre-vailed. What is the role of UNMIL inhelping Liberia develop a human rightsculture?

This is indeed a huge task.Implementing human rights in a post-con-flict situation is by itself a major chal-lenge. In the case of Liberia, this is evenmore due to the long years of human rightsviolations carried out with impunity. Tobegin with, this is an issue of changing thewhole mind-set of a people. The majorityof them have seen only war in their entirelives.

UNMIL has supported the creation ofthe Independent National Commission onHuman Rights, which was adopted by theNational Transitional Assembly in Marchlast year. This was part of theComprehensive Peace Agreement. TheCommission will monitor Liberia’s com-pliance with international human rightsstandards, promote human rights educa-tion and work with national and interna-tional partners to promote human rightsprotection in the country. UNMIL willcontinue supporting the effective opera-tion of the Commission.

Another significant achievement in thehuman rights area is the establishment of aTruth and Reconciliation Commission inthe country. In both these cases -- TRC andthe Human Rights Commission -- UNMILworked very hard with the NationalTransitional Government to bring theseinstitutions into a reality.

In addition, by providing human rightstraining as part of the curriculum, we are

instilling respect for human rights amongthe newly trained police force in the coun-try. UNMIL has also started a bi-monthlyreport on the human rights situation inLiberia, which has received widespreadmedia coverage. We have human rightsmonitors assigned to the regions and wealso provide support to human rights vic-tims in various ways.

Can the TRC help end the culture ofimpunity in this country and foster rec-onciliation?

The TRC is a critical institution envis-aged in the Comprehensive PeaceAgreement and is designed to address theissues of impunity. In addition, it will alsoaddress the root causes of the Liberian cri-sis and recommend measures to rehabili-tate the victims of human rights violations.It will conduct thorough investigationsinto gross human rights violations in thecountry starting from January 1979. It canplay an invaluable role in healing thewounds of war and bring about reconcilia-tion in the society. Already, all the nineCommissioners of the TRC have beenappointed and the Commission is set tostart its work very soon. UNMIL will con-tinue to offer full support for the work ofthe Commission.

In what way is the international com-munity assisting the reform of Liberia’s

Judiciary?Liberia’s Judiciary has been starved of

funding for many years. Members of theJudiciary have been paid pitifully lowsalaries, and some of them haven’treceived their salaries for many years. Thesituation has been exacerbated by the lackof qualified lawyers, prosecutors anddefence counsel. There are only some 200lawyers in the entire country, with justabout 50 in the private bar. So many mag-isterial and specialized courts continue tobe staffed by unqualified personnel.

UNMIL has helped in the completionof the vetting process and commissioningof judicial officers for all circuit, special-ized and magisterial courts. We have alsohelped the reopening of most of the courtsin the counties. Under UNMIL’s QuickImpact Projects, 13 courts have been ear-marked for renovation and currently sixsuch projects are underway with two ofthem already completed.

UNMIL has also assisted the nationalauthorities in bringing about legislativereforms such as the landmark Rape Law,Human Trafficking Law, the Jury Law,and a law offering the Judiciary financialautonomy. UNMIL has also conductedseveral training workshops for prosecu-tors, county attorneys, solicitors, courtclerks and legal aid providers in additionto providing basic assistance to the LouiseArthur Law School.

The challenges in the judicial sectorremain serious. Without an effectivelyfunctioning judiciary, law-enforcement,human rights protection and correctionscannot function properly.

Corruption has been a running theme inLiberia’s recent history, including evenin the Transitional Government. IsUNMIL supporting efforts to root outcorruption that is so ingrained in thesociety?

Corruption undermines the Rule ofLaw. We are particularly encouraged byPresident Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf namingcorruption as “enemy number one.”UNMIL will do everything possible toassist the new government in stamping outcorruption in the country.

Recruits train at the Police Academy


By AAnnette RRehrl

The day Thomas Kamarareturned with his family froma refugee camp in Guineaback to Liberia was one of thebrightest days in his life.After having lived for 13 years in theneighbouring country where two of hischildren had been born, he reachedVoinjama in May 2005 to start life anew.

“I’m the happiest man today. I’mhome. I came back, because I want to bepart of the new society which is growingin Liberia. We need to do something forour country,” he said on arrival, tearswelling up in his eyes. While his familysettled temporarily with relatives in LofaCounty, the trained social worker headedto Monrovia to look for a job.

Eight months later he is now occupiedwith two different jobs and has brought hisbeloved ones to the capital. “With the newgovernment, I’m confident that things willmove on. Though it’s still difficult, I neverregret that we came back. It was the rightthing to do,” says Thomas when askedhow he was faring.

Kamara is only one of nearly 47,000Liberian refugees* who dared to start

anew by coming back to Liberia throughUNHCR’s voluntary repatriation opera-tion that began in October 2004. Whilemost of the 340,000 Liberian refugees tobe repatriated within a three-year time-frame expressed in 2005 their desire toawait the outcome of the elections firstbefore making a definite decision, therepatriation movement has witnessed aconsiderable surge since the new govern-ment has been installed. Within just threeweeks after the inauguration of PresidentEllen Johnson-Sirleaf, close to 3,000refugees, mainly from Guinea and SierraLeone, have headed back home.

Almost 50 per cent of all thesereturnees went back to Lofa County,making it UNHCR’s top area of return,followed by Maryland, Nimba andMontserrado.

Taking advantage of the dry seasonand passable roads as well as the plantingseason which goes until April, therefugee agency has set every mechanismin place to repatriate as many refugees aspossible within the first half of 2006.About 100,000 refugees are expected tocome back during this year, includingspontaneous returnees. UNHCR is cur-rently planning to open new satellite

offices in Foya in Lofa County, andFishtown in River Gee, to assist the arriv-ing returnees.

Meanwhile, urban refugees fromNigeria and Ghana also are registering inincreasing numbers for repatriation. WithMaster’s degrees in their pockets, acquiredduring their years in exile, they come backby chartered flights.

Given the high diversity within thereturnee population, ranging from farmersgoing back to remote areas to skilledteachers and nurses, UNHCR has estab-lished a variety of reintegration pro-grammes aimed at making communitiesself-sufficient again. CommunityEmpowerment Projects (CEPs), includingagricultural projects, like swamp rice, cas-sava or coffee plantations, skills training,micro-loan programmes, income generat-ing activities, capacity building forwomen, shelter for the vulnerable popula-tion, water and sanitation projects as wellas the reconstruction of schools, clinicsand health centers, will therefore continueto be of high priority to the refugeeagency. Up to today, over 1,000 such proj-ects have been completed in major areas ofreturn. Since communities do decidethemselves what they need and are

RREEFFUUGGEEEE RREETTUURRNNSS RREEFFUUGGEEEE RREETTUURRNNSS


involved from the planning stage to thecompletion of the projects, sustainabilityis guaranteed.

Nyamah Weedor, for example, a singlemother of two, approached UNHCR’simplementing partner, American RefugeeCommittee, in early 2005. The returneefrom Guinea, where she had spent threeyears in a refugee camp in Kissidougou,wanted to engage in a small business.Together with six other women she pro-posed a business plan and applied for amicro loan. Today she has established arice shop at Duala market, Monrovia,while her friends sell toiletries, second-

hand clothes and household articles near-by. Weedor’s rice sells so well that shenow thinks of expanding her business andmove into a bigger place. “I make enoughprofit to feed my children, send them toschool and to put some money aside,” shesays. “Without the start-up help of themicro loan, it would have been impossi-ble.”

While home -coming Liberians receiveimmediate assistance, counselling andtheir return package, comprising non-fooditems, travel cash grants and the firsttranche of a four-month’s food rationupon arrival in the Transit Centres,UNHCR’s protection monitoring and theimplementation of reintegration pro-grammes carry on even long after theirreturn. Currently, the agency, in closecooperation with its implementing part-ners and together with members of theJoint Action Plan, UNICEF, UNDP andWFP, is working out strategies to have tai-lored reintegration packages ready as soonas skilled individuals, like teachers, arrive.“Collaboration with UN agencies andother partners will ensure success ofUNHCR’s efforts and will be subsumedunder the longer-term development ofLiberia,” says UNHCR RepresentativeMengesha Kebede, stressing the need forpulling together.

Major reconstruction programmes,like the rehabilitation of roads and bridges,are also going on. In 2005 alone, UNHCRrehabilitated 230 km of roads and 24bridges, mostly on the main repatriationaxis. A 75 km-long road linking Saclepeato Logatoe on the Ivorian border will befinished in February.

Liberia’s internally displaced persons

(IDPs) do of course benefit likewise fromUNHCR’s reintegration programmes. Outof 314,000 IDPs, which the agency hadcommitted itself to assisting through theinter-agency collaborative approach, over282,000 have already returned to theirplaces of origin. Once back home, formerIDPs, returnees and the residing localcommunity are encouraged to engage in awide range of activities UNHCR’sImplementing Partners offer. Such activi-ties also aim to enhance the reconciliationprocess between Liberians.

One good example is the town ofBalama in Bong County where returnees,former IDPs and the local community whoremained during the war are joining handsto rebuild a UNHCR funded primaryschool, which will benefit children fromseveral nearby villages. “The war is over,”town chief John Golokay says. “Now weall must help together, to rebuild our coun-try.”

That’s exactly the mind-set Liberia’snewly elected President is encouragingeveryone to emulate. In a statementaddressed to the remaining Liberianrefugees and IDPs, disseminated throughUNHCR’s mass information campaign,Johnson-Sirleaf promised to work closelywith UNHCR to create a viable environ-ment for returnees to cohabit peacefully:“Please be assured that your governmentwants you home,” she called Liberians inexile. “Your other compatriots are await-ing you to join hands with them in therebuilding of our nation.”

* Figures as of 2 February 2006

The writer is a Public InformationOfficer, UNHCR, Liberia

Attacks in mid-January on theoffices of the United NationsHigh Commissioner forRefugees (UNHCR) in Côte d'Ivoire left10,000 Liberians who had fled theircountry without assistance. As violencestruck Guiglo, near the Liberian border,the UN agency's office there wasdestroyed after protesters looted thepremises and set fire to the building.

"All files were lost, as well as fivecars, one motorcycle and three genera-

tors. Other UN agencies and several inter-national NGOs have suffered similar loss-es. Warehouses containing relief items andfood were also looted," spokesman RonRedmond said.

The agency was forced to evacuate itsstaff from the area after violence spread ashundreds of protesters converged on theUN compound. Those incidents followedsimilar protests against the UN in Abidjan.

"UNHCR is shocked at the level of theviolence and saddened that its staff and

other UN and humanitarian workers weretargeted," Mr. Redmond said. "UNHCRhas been in Guiglo for more than 10years, working on behalf of refugees andthe local host population."

He voiced concern that the agencyhas no staff left on the ground to assistmore than 10,000 Liberian refugees,while relief items -- including food --destined for them have been looted, ashave the vehicles needed to reach benefi-ciaries and distribute aid.

Violence Affects Refugees

SSUURRGGEESSUURRGGEE

By EElma SShaw

Two thousand weapons col-lected in the past two years.That’s what a group of youngLiberians have done in adoor-to-door campaign to ridLiberian neighbourhoods of arms left overfrom the back to back civil wars. Theycall themselves Liberians United toExpose Hidden Weapons (LUEHW), andtheir work has won kudos from the UNDPSmall Arms Control Programme, UNMILsecurity forces and Landmine Action.Together, these organizations are workingto make Liberia a gun-free society.

LUEHW was recently chosen by theUNDP Small Arms Control Programme tohelp create awareness for the CommunityArms Collection for Development(CACD) project in the Bain-GarrChiefdom of Nimba County. The CACD

is part of a comprehensive plan to ridLiberia of illicit weapons. Participatingchiefdoms have until June 2006 to returnremaining weapons in exchange for fundsfrom the Small Arms Control Programmefor community development projects.Other components of the plan are the revi-sion of the1956 Firearms Traffic Act, theestablishment of a National Commissionon Small Arms, and a national publicawareness campaign on the dangers ofsmall arms.

The CACD was launched in the threecounties of Lofa, Nimba and Grand Gedehin January. These counties were chosenfor the pilot programme because theyserved as major battlegrounds in the justended civil war, and because they shareborders with Sierra Leone, Guinea andCôte d’Ivoire, all of which have a recenthistory of internal conflicts.

Fear is one of the challenges some-

times faced by the UNDP Small ArmsControl Programme and its partners whenit comes to convincing people to turn intheir weapons. Official disarmament anddemobilization ended in October 2004,and those who still possess weapons fearthey could land in trouble with the author-ities if they come out with them in public.

Another challenge, according to com-munity members of the management com-mittees set up to oversee the arms fordevelopment projects, is the tendency ofpeople to hold out for individual incen-tives. Some of the ex-combatants andgun-owners want to be paid for their guns,just as those who participated in the offi-cial disarmament process were.Especially stubborn are those who tried toturn in weapons during the amnesty butwere turned away, either because theirweapons were non-functional, or becausethe programme ended despite the fact thatthe arms were still coming in.

Wilfred Kollie is one of those whohung on to his gun – a 45mm pistol – in thehopes of receiving something in return.“In the end I gave it up for the sake of thecommunity,” he said enthusiastically.Since turning in the pistol last June, heworks with LUEHW to reach others whostill have weapons.

Convincing people to give up theirarms is not always an easy task. It takespatience, diplomacy and attention toweapon-safety issues. Although somemembers of the awareness teams and proj-ect management committees are formerfighters who say they know how to handlethem, bombs, grenades and unknownweapons are not to be touched or moved.

This is where UNMIL security forcesand Landmine Action come in. Both workas technical partners with the UNDP SmallArms Control Programme to help collectand destroy small arms, light weapons andexplosive devices. Landmine Action pro-vides the green collection boxes – a large


MMaakkiinngg LLiibbeerriiaa GGuunn-FFrreeee

Jasp

er K

ai

NO MORE GUNSWeapons are destroyedafter collection



Keenly aspiring to serve anddefend Liberia, hundreds ofunemployed youths, ex-combatants and even for-mer members

unmil focus · 2015. 7. 31. · 2 unmil focus december 2005 - february 2006 w ith the inauguration...

Documents