By Kemo Cham
Late last month history was made in Liberia when local security forces assumed control of the country’s security for the first time in 13 years.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf presided over a symbolic ceremony in Monrovia on July 1 marking the formal transfer of security control by UN peacekeepers. The tour of duty of the peacekeepers, under the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), had ended a day before on Thursday June 30.
But barely a week later, it seems the government is unsure of the ability of the local security to deliver. Foreign Minister Marjon Kamara last week called on the UN to extend its stay until after elections in 2017. Kamara told New Zealand’s Special Representative for West Africa, Charles Kingston, that with the level of gains already attained, it would be prudent for the international community to keep eyes on Liberia “at this critical time.”
UNMIL was first deployed in 2003 after the end of the Liberian civil war which first erupted in 1989 when Charles Taylor’s forces waged a war on the regular army under President Samuel K. Doe. Doe was later killed by forces loyal to another rebel leader Prince Johnson, now a senator in the Liberian legislature.
Taylor was subsequently elected President at the end of the first war. But his own regime was also short-lived as he came under attack and subsequently fled the country. He is now serving a life sentence in a UK jail in connection to the civil war here in Sierra Leone.
Some 250, 000 people died in between the two Liberian wars. The country’s army and police were rendered virtually ineffective as a result of the severity of the war that lasted for about 14 years. To help maintain law and order while rebuilding the country’s security sector, the UN deployed up to 16, 000 troops.
After holding two successful elections, the international community decided that it was time for Liberians to take control of their own security. The drawdown of the forces, which began in 2012, was carried out in four phases. The deadline for completion was June 30, 2016.
But before the June 30 event there had been a lot of concern about the readiness of the local forces to take control of key security matters under the UN control, notably executive protection and disposal of unexploded ordinances. It becomes even more complicated when the much anticipated general elections slated for next year is put into consideration.
Despite the categorization of the previous two elections as successful, they have been characterized by violence which threatened to reverse the gains over the last one decade. To allay fears around this, the UN had announced that despite the transfer of responsibilities, 1, 240 troops and 606 police officers from UNMIL would be maintained in the country in case of an emergency, pending a decision on the final fate of the mission.
“The continuing improvement in the security and stability of Liberia has enabled the UN to enter the final stage of its peacekeeping effort in the country,” said UN Secretary General Ban ki-Moon, in a statement marking the ceremony.
But Foreign Minister Kamara said the stakes were too high for the world to just relax.
“I think they [UN] have done a great job by making huge investments aimed at restoring peace and stability to Liberia,” she said.
Sirleaf is not qualified to run for the presidency as she has served the two constitutional term limit. The president has however since endorsed her vice president, Joseph Boakai,who is likely to face football legend George Weah. Within his ruling Unity Party, Boakai is also facing strong opposition from supporters who believes he a Sierra Leonean and therefore not qualified to run for president.
Mr Weah, a senator, will be contesting the polls for the second time after his first attempt in 2005.
© Politico 12/07/16
