Liberia: "Much Still Needs to Be Done"
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The Inquirer (Monrovia)
22 August 2008
Posted to the web 22 August 2008
The United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon has confirmed in a report to the Security Council that the struggle with the rule of law and competition over natural resources threatens Liberia fragile stability despite its economy showing significant improvement.
The UN Secretary General in the report declared that the main threats to peace and stability in Liberia emanate from the law and order maintenance.
Mr. Ban Ki-moon who also recommended a twelve-month extension to September 9, 2009, to the security council for the operation of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), however said that much still needs to be done urgently to strengthen the capacities of both the police and Arm forces of Liberia and also facilitate their effective presence in the country.
The UN boss noted that the delay in the reinforcement of the national police and the establishment of an Emergency Respond Unit is making it difficult for UNMIL Police Unit in Monrovia to reduce it tasks and redeploy to other 'hotpots' around the country.
Consequently, Mr. Ban Ki-moon proposed expanding the seize of the UNMIL police units from 605-845 officers and at the same time calls on Liberia to international partners to urgently provide assistance in building a national police force.
He indicated in the report that more than 60 percent of the population lives below the national poverty line while country scores among the lowest in the world in key social indicators, posing a potential risk to a delicate peace building process.
According to Mr. Ban Ki-moon, while the increase value of natural resources has contributed to an improvement in the Government's revenue, meaning that it has created a stronger incentive for illegal exploitation of natural resources, particularly rubber and minerals.
He further disclosed in the report that the most recent surge in the fuel and food prices as well as the political instability in neighboring Guinea and Cote d'Ivoire could also have negative implications for security in Liberia.
Mr. Ban Ki-moon however recommends continuing with the planned reduction in UNMIL military personnel, repatriating almost 1,500, including troops, officers, observers, and engineering and administrative units, leaving a troop strength of just over 10,000 by September 2009.
The UN Officila reported that UNMIL will be able to continue to discharge its mandate of maintaining a stable and secure environment and providing the necessary security umbrella throughout the country to enable the government to continue its reform and restructuring programs.
Of late the Security Council extended the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) until 30, September 2008 and however requested a report on the progress made in achieving the core benchmarks set out in the report made on August 8, 2007.
Assessment from the UN boss April visits to Liberia proved that the political situation has remained generally stable while key economic and social indicators have continued to improve.
His assessment also noted that on the economic front, the level of extended debt has been significantly reduced.
Meanwhile, UNMIL Special Representative to the Secretary General (SRSG), Ellen Margrethe Loj, has announced a reduction in the number of sexual exploitation within the country.
Releasing the mission latest Sexual Exploitation and Abuse (SEA) report, the SRSG said that they were happy that the number of reported SEA allegation has reduced, but they were concern about the possibility under reporting.
According to the report, which covers the period of January to June 2008, only five allegation of SEA were reported during the period under reviewed.
Madam Loj noted in the report that the allegation involving UNMIL personnel are four less then the nine that were reported in the period from July-December 2007.
She however confirmed that out of two allegations, one was not substantiated while investigation into the other is ongoing. The SRSR further said that the third reported allegation led to repatriation on administrative grounds of the personnel prior to completion of investigation by UNMIL.
She indicated in the report that in the remaining two allegation, one staff members resigned for unrelated reasons prior to the unset of internal investigation.
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She also stated in the report that the personnel connected with the last SEA allegation is under investigation by the Office of the Internal Oversight service (OIOS), while the final investigation is awaited.
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