Liberia: Unmil Concerned About Reports of 'Mercenary' Activities

he United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) has expressed serious concern over reports of "mercenary" activities at refugee camps in Grand Gedeh County. Grand Gedeh County is located in Southeastern Liberia. The refugee camps in Grand Gedeh are: Dougee, Solo and PTP.
It can be recalled that recently, Grand Gedeh County Superintendent, Mr. Peter Solo, alarmed over "mercenary activities" at the camps. Among other things, Mr. Solo asserted that "there were suspicions of possible recruitment of dissident forces at the three (3) camps".
According to the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) of UNMIL, Madam Karin Landgren, the mission is concerned about reports about former combatants, militias as well as Liberian "mercenaries" involvement into the situation in neighboring La Cote D'Ivoire.
She disclosed that reports concerning the allegation have also been provided by the Joint Task Force (JTF) which includes personnel from the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization (BIN), Emergency Response Unit (ERU) and officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP).She spoke Wednesday, September 19, 2012 at UNMIL's regular press briefing held at the Pan Africa Plaza in Monrovia.
Speaking further, Madam Landgren pointed out that the Government of Liberia (GOL) has a commitment to prevent its territory from being used for attack on neighboring countries, stating: "the security of border points is the responsibility of the Liberian security agencies."
Since the launch of "Operation Restore Hope" by the GOL at the border, Madam Landgren recalled that UNMIL has provided "just minimum support" to the Liberian soldiers assigned at the border. The UNMIL new boss indicated that the safeguarding of Liberia's border points is something that needs great attention.
She said measures must be put into place to ensure that those she called "negative elements" are not seeking refuge in the country. "Many of those who crossed the border from La Cote D'Ivoire into Liberia are refugees and in fact, the number has quite reduced because many of them had to go back home. Liberia has been a generous host to the refugees.
They continue to be refugees while they are here and there should be no rumors on who is actually crossing the border. We are concerned about former combatants, militias and Liberian mercenaries," she emphasized. She continued: "These concerns about mercenary activities linked to some of the refugees have also been reported by the task force.
We see many measures that can be taken to strengthen the security of the border and also try to ensure that those coming into Liberia are not the negative elements. Guiding the border is really a serious issue." However, the UNMIL boss disclosed that several measures have been taken to ensure that the border points of Liberia is safe and secured.
Madam Landgren said the renewal of "Operation Restore Hope," deployment of 50 unarmed LNP officers at refugee camps in Grand Gedeh County and the screening of the refugees as some of the steps taken towards the reports. The UN official said the deployment of the officers and the screening of the refugees will help strengthen the security of the camps.
"More can be done to make sure that this kind of activity is not taking place and we have also seen in recent months that some of the suspected mercenaries have been arrested and charged. We will be working closely with our UNOCI colleagues in Ivory Coast.
Three (3) helicopters previously based here are going to be based in La Cote D'Ivoire and be used in the interest of cross border fight," the UNMIL chief stated. She urged Liberia and La Cote D'Ivoire to put in place what she calls a "share border strategy" to guarantee the safety of the border.

Liberia: Peace Island Residents in Tears

Squatters in the Peace Island Community are obviously finding themselves losing properties acquired around the multi-million dollar unfinished defense ministry building where China is expected to construct a US$60 million Ministerial Complex.
Last Thursday, September 20, 2012, Liberia's Information Minister Lewis Brown publicly announced at a press conference that government had set this Friday, September 28, 2012 as deadline for all legitimate land owners within the vicinity to submit copies of their land deeds, including relevant documents to Deputy Public Works Minister for Technical Services, Victor B. Smith.
The government insists that only those with legitimate properties will be compensated for relocation from the project site after evaluation and demarcation. The acting Communication Director at the Public Works Ministry Christian Harris said government has already written letters to each community dweller on the matter.
Except for the front view of the Peace Island Community around the unfinished defense ministry, those occupying properties across the building say they were never given land deeds by government so they have no claims or documents to present for compensation.
Besides, the Chairman for the community Prince Ben said though it was the government that gave them the land in 2002 without deeds, the authorities did not write them any communication regarding their removal from the island.
"If you want me to leave from here, nobody can question government. But where do I go with my family?" Chairman Ben questioned.
Several residents of the area, who spoke with this paper said since the pronouncement was made by government, they have not received any written communication apparently on grounds that they are illegitimate squatters.
But legitimate land owners at the front view of Peace Island say they were written and are expected to converge for a meeting with authorities at the Public Works Ministry today at 2PM.
A resident of the front view area of Peace Island, Lemoe Brandy told this paper Public Works had communicated with them and scheduled a conference today at the ministry.
Earlier, Acting Communication Director Christian Harris said government would not be responsible to compensate squatters [those illegitimately occupying properties] for relocation.
The Chinese Government has also indicated that the project does not have extra money for relocation thus, the Liberian Government would take responsibility of relocating residents from the Peace Island Community.
The government identified the unfinished building and its surroundings as site for the construction of the ministerial complex following years of fruitless negotiations to obtain part of the vast acres of land claimed by the ELWA mission.
The ministerial complex is expected to accommodate 10 government ministries and agencies, and will only be second largest building on the African Continent, next to the new African Union (AU) Headquarters in Addis Abba, Ethiopia.
When completed, the facility is expected to enhance coordination and effectiveness among government ministries, civil servants and save millions of dollars being spent on rented properties, housing ministries and agencies.

Liberia: Unmil Boss - Put More Women in Power

Gbarnga — Liberia may have elected Africa's first female President but the country is failing to put women in power on a broader scale, a top United Nations official said. Of 312 judicial magistrates assigned across Liberia's 15 counties, there is not a single woman in that position, Madam Karin Landgren, Special Representative to the Secretary General of the United Nations said.
And women make up only 17 per cent of Liberia's National Police. That number should be at least 30 per cent, Madam Landgren said during a forum on women, peace and security in Gbarnga, Bong County, on Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012. The forum, which brought together women from across the country, was held under the theme: "Liberian women demand access to justice."
Madam Landgren observed that the statistics of women in leadership in the judicial system is even by far lower than other areas. "Despite having a visible female President, the statistics of women in leadership is very low. This is very saddened, especially in the judicial system of this country," the UNMIL boss said. "UNMIL as Liberia's partner in progress would love this see this number change significantly."
She said the UN through the Mission would help change the sad reputation of Liberia in the area of Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV). UNMIL, she said, will ensure that SGBV Crime Units are expanded across all the counties of Liberia to help adjudicate SGBV cases through a fast-track process.
"UNMIL wants to see more women in the police, immigration as well as other state security agencies. Not only that, but we want to see them in leadership positions," she said. Women's groups from across the country were invited to attend the forum. More than 1,000 women attended the event.
Some shared stories about being marginalized in the decision-making process at home and at work. Others opened up about dealing with violence at home. They stressed the need for more donor support to the Ministry of Gender and Development as a means of solving issues of SGBV suffered by women, especially in rural counties.

Liberia: U.S. Vows to Preserve Stability

Liberia's historic partner the United States of America has reiterated its commitment to collaborating with the Administration of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf to preserve peace and security here.

The newly accredited US Ambassador to Liberia Deborah R. Malac says her office is committed to working with the Government of Liberia to preserve peace and stability.
The US Department of State has been spearheading the restructure of the Armed Forces of Liberia, with an American company Dycorp training the first batch of 2,000 soldiers after the restoration of democratic governance in 2005. The US Government in collaboration with other partners is also implementing Security Sector Reform here.
Speaking at a welcome reception held in Monrovia Wednesday in her honor, Ambassador Malac also promised to work with the Liberian authorities to promote economic growth and build institutions that are accountable to the people.
A statement issued by the US Embassy near Monrovia quotes the Ambassador as saying "to that end, we concur with the Liberian government that we must all support the transition from UNIMIL (United Nations Mission in Liberia) forces to the Liberian national police and other security forces."
Ambassador Malac acknowledged that the road ahead will be difficult, but assures that the US remains Liberia's strong partner and will continue to support and stand alongside Liberia as it has been in the past.
"Through our robust U.S. government assistance programs, administered by USAID, the Department of State and other agencies, we will work with the Liberian government, institutions and NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations) toward the goals of increasing economic growth, reducing poverty, improving educational opportunities for all Liberians, including girls, and strengthening government entities", she added.
The US Envoy recalled that the United States and Liberia have a strong and unique relationship that dates back nearly two centuries, and pledged to further strengthen the two countries' partnership during her tenure in Liberia.
Prior to taking her new assignment to Liberia, Ambassador Malac recalled working in Africa or on African issues at the Department of State for most of her 31-year diplomatic career.
Most recently, she was Director of the Office of East African Affairs, working in an area of the continent that has occupied much of her time in the past seven years.
Notwithstanding, Ambassador Malac said as exciting as those years have been, she had long had a soft spot in heart for West Africa and was therefore honored to be selected by President Barack Obama to come to Liberia, replacing Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield, the first US female envoy to Liberia

(COURT D)

How climate change is transforming Maasai pastoralist life

On meeting Ngaiyok Legilisho Kipainoi, many of his long-time friends would assume he had been out of his native Mairowa pastoral village for some time and has just returned.

He talks more about the trends of modern societies and every time he moves from one homestead to another everybody can tell which way from tracing the trail of dust that his motorcycle kicks up. 

In reality Kipainoi, 35, is already in a world away from the destitution and social tension that gripped the north-eastern Tanzania rangelands in 2009 following a devastating drought.

The past three years or so have seen the worst socio-economic crisis for the Maasai pastoral communities in recent history.

The drought has immensely cost the nation in lost productivity, but traditional cattle breeders in this area even more readily compute its toll on their decimated herds of livestock.

Available figures show that Longido District in Arusha Region suffered a loss of at least 120,000 head of cattle, which was slightly over half of its total herd of 200,000.

The drought’s impact on the people’s lives and their livestock is still visible in many villages of Engarenaibor ward even after recent rains brought back a flush of green on the ground.

But the good news is that, together with the improved weather conditions, there is a gradual turnaround of the pastoralists’ way of life.