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| WIMAM ADMINISTRATION 2006 - 2008 |
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| PRESIDENT Mamadee Konneh |
| VICE PRESIDENT Assata Sheriff |
| SECRETARY GENERAL Morris M. Kromah |
| Abraham Kromah Speech WIMAM Inauguration |
| ANNOUNCEMENTS |
| Let us come together as one and let go our differences. By: Mr. Mamadee Konneh, WIMAM's President, July 9, 2006 |
It has been said and as we all are aware, “United We Stand, Divided We Fall”. Why can't we be good listeners and allow others to express their opinions? I would like to point out some issues that are affecting our community, and my administration will do every thing to solve this dispute if Allah’s agree. |
| Prepare For UNMIL’s Departure Wednesday, April 4, 2007 |
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| UN Security Council Tells Liberia United Nations' original security plan is facing unspoken challenges and there are suggestions UNMIL may phase out before the original benchmarks are achieved. In the apparent view of this reality, a recent UN resolution on Liberia has called for the active engagement and involvement of the government in taking steps to achieve the remaining benchmarks before September 30, 2007. This is the effective date the current mandate of UNMIL expires. • “The government also needs to accelerate the development of a national security strategy and framework, as well as the training and restructuring of the new army". “Acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the UN…Decides the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) shall be extended until 30 September 2007,” states the 6-point UN Resolution 1750 (2007) issued on March 30, 2007. The council took the decision that many say may compound Liberia’s problems and heighten fears amongst ordinary Liberians even though it recognized that significant challenges remain in the consolidation of Liberia’s post-conflict transition. These challenges, in the words of the council, include massive development and reconstruction needs, the reform of the judiciary, extension of the rule of law throughout the country, the development of the Liberian security forces and security architecture, and consolidation of State authority. The decision to limit UNMIL mandate to six months came barely two weeks after Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon noted categorically that much time and international commitment were needed to salvage Liberia out of its present predicament. “In the light of the challenges outlined above, and given the limited progress made in meeting the benchmarks for the consolidation and drawdown of the Mission, I recommend the extension of the mandate of UNMIL for a period of 12 months, until 31 March 2008,” Secretary Ban had noted. In view of the apparent drop in interest in Liberia, many observers had hoped that the security council would have called for crack programs to hasten the achievement of set benchmarks in Liberia, but instead the council seems to be calling on Liberia to get prepared for the eventual pullout of UNMIL. “[The council] calls on the government of Liberia, in close coordination with UNMIL, to take further steps towards achieving those benchmarks with a view to a phased, gradual consolidation, drawdown and withdrawal of UNMIL’s troop contingent, as the situation permits and without compromising the security of Liberia,” the resolution notes. It further mandates the Secretary General, in the run up to the expiration of the current mandate of UNMIL after which decisions would be made for renewal, to present a detailed drawdown plan for the mission in his next report to the council, scheduled for June this year. The report is to include specific recommendations on force levels and options for a drawdown, and must be presented no later than 45 days prior to the expiration of UNMIL mandate and to continue to inform the council on progress on the stabilization of Liberia, with reference to the broad benchmarks laid out in his report of 12 September 2006. It's not clear what role Liberia is expected to play at this critical time of economic stagnation in the face of UN sanctions and critical restriction on investment in timber resource exploitation, but there are suggestions that Liberia’s portion may be as suggested by Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon. “The government also needs to accelerate the development of a national security strategy and framework, as well as the training and restructuring of the new army". While some progress has been made in restructuring and training the police, vehicles, communications equipment and accommodation are needed to sustain their deployment to the interior of the country. I trust that donors will contribute generously towards these pressing requirements, which will help the government to strengthen the rule of law,” he said in is report last month. The benchmarks set by the security council for the consolidation, drawdown, and withdrawal of the Mission include the training, restructuring and reform of the Liberian National Police, the training, restructuring and reform of the Armed Forces of Liberia, and the development of a national security strategy and architecture. Others are the reintegration of ex-combatants, the consolidation of state authority, the management of natural resources, and the promotion of human rights and the rule of law. The promotion of human rights and the rule of law will take into consideration the promotion of human rights and the support for the judicial system. It may be recalled that Secretary Ban’s assessment of these benchmarks in his March 2007 report indicated that much was left to be desired. Meanwhile the security council has determined that the situation in Liberia continues to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region, and reaffirms its intention to authorize the Secretary General to redeploy troops, as may be needed, between UNMIL and UNOCI on a temporary basis in accordance with the provisions of resolution 1609 (2005). In another development, the Council has noted the intention of the Special Court for Sierra Leone to reach agreement with the Government of Liberia on carrying out a programme of activities in Liberia, and has accordingly augmented UNMIL’s mandate. Under the new arrangement, UNMIL will provide, within its capabilities and areas of deployment and without prejudice to the performance of its other mandated tasks, administrative and related support and security, on a cost-reimbursable basis, for activities conducted in Liberia by the Special Court for Sierra Leone with the consent of the government of Liberia. |
| Source: The Analyst |