Montserrado and Nimba Counties Special Report

UNLocK Liberia Montserrado and Nimba Counties Special Report

January 2010 - January 2012 Founded in 1957, the Fund for Peace is an independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) non-profit research and educational organization that works to prevent violent conflict and promote sustainable security. We promote sustainable security through research, training and education, engagement of civil society, building bridges across diverse sectors, and developing innovative technologies 55th Anniversary 1957-2012 and tools for policy makers. A leader in the conflict assessment and early warning field, the Fund for Peace focuses on the problems of weak and failing states. Our objective is to create practical tools and approaches for conflict mitigation that are useful to decision-makers.

The Fund for Peace Conflict Early Warning and Assessment Produced in partnership with Liberia Democracy Watch

UNLocK Reports Series Editors Kendall Lawrence Nate Haken

Report Written by Tierney Anderson Samantha Levine

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www.fundforpeace.org 2 The Fund for Peace UNLocK Liberia Montserrado and Nimba Counties

Introduction

The year 2011 was an illuminating towards a more functional democracy. Methodology 4 period with respect to pressures and However, despite these gains, there is still National Level Analysis 5 resilience in Liberia. Early in the year, Liberia much work to be done. For example, there is experienced significant social pressures from no recent data on paved roads in Liberia but, Indicator Trends 7 abroad as neighboring Cote d’Ivoire as of 2007, Liberia had the second lowest Montserrado County Report 9 descended into a major political crisis number of motor vehicles per capita, tied Nimba County Report 11 sending thousands of refugees into Nimba with Somalia, according to the World Bank Looking Ahead 14 and Grand Gedeh counties. Then, internally, Development indicators. Electrical power Liberia experienced heightened political consumption per capita was the 187th lowest About The Fund for Peace 15 pressure as the election season peaked in in the world, despite the fact that the country About Liberia Democracy Watch 15 November. Despite this dangerous has a population of less than 4 million confluence of conflict drivers and triggers, people. Even in the capital city of Monrovia, there were no major outbreaks of violence where a third of the country’s population during the year. Liberia was able to weather lives, the electrical grid has not been repaired external shocks and internal pressure, and people who can afford them use private reinforcing the notion that the country has generators. come a long way since 2004. This report takes a look at Nimba and Montserrado The inability of the government to provide counties within the broader national context, adequate public services throughout the in terms of pressures and resilience country remains a serious shortcoming and throughout 2011 and beyond. It draws on source of tension. In November 2011, data generated by local civil society President Johnson Sirleaf was granted networks, from automated content analysis another six-year term to consolidate human data (from a sample of 28,634 news articles), security and development in the country. To and a qualitative review of the data, informed a degree, the state of Liberia appears able to by field visits and desktop research. weather shocks and pressures, based on the experience of 2011. However, looking ahead, It has now been almost ten years since the if the government does not better manage war ended in 2004. And while Liberia has expectations and service delivery, the risk of made strides forward in rebuilding since conflict could escalate once again. then, progress has been slow. Perhaps most Particularly if the price of commodities like significantly, the Liberian government, under rice and charcoal continue to rise, and state the leadership of President Ellen Johnson agencies are perceived to be corrupt, there is Sirleaf, has focused on the long process of the strong possibility that ethnic groups will repairing the country’s shattered institutions compete for influence and resources. although there remain significant gaps in Although this has focused on Montserrado capacity. Sirleaf’s reelection in November and Nimba, the issues encountered in these 2011 was generally deemed free and fair, two counties highlight the larger-scale issues demonstrating the country’s trajectory endemic to modern Liberia.

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About the Report

From March 2010 to November 2011 submitting incident reports to a password- Liberia for this report due to several reasons. the Fund for Peace conducted ten conflict protected database organized by date, FFP staff traveled to Liberia in April 2012, and assessment workshops in Liberia in location and indicator. These incident reports held an UNLocK workshop in Nimba County, partnership with Liberia Democracy Watch. In are then compiled to generate an image of and saw many of these pressures still Bong, Bomi, Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh, the conflict landscape in Liberia which is then reflected. Montserrado is Liberia’s smallest Nimba, and Lofa Counties as well as used to anticipate and respond to the major county, but also its most populous. Many Monrovia, individuals and civil society pressures that could lead to conflict. In the citizens in Montserrado partake in petty organizations have been trained in a conflict short term, this information acts as a warning, trading, avoiding legal avenues due to a lack assessment methodology utilizing FFP’s allowing people to avoid potential conflict of support for the government and judicial Conflict Assessment System Tool (CAST) zones. More broadly, this information can be system. Moreover, public services – like framework. Adapted for relevance to Liberia’s used by government and civil society to roads, hospitals, and education – are local conflict landscape, CAST equips inform conflict sensitive approaches to inadequate for the population size. Indeed, a participants with the tools to assess, development and policy. As of this portion of the population qualifies as “food anticipate, and take actions to prevent publication over 800 incident reports had insecure,” leading to greater health problems, violent conflict. been filed representing participation from at because it shows pressures on such a large least 80 civil society organizations. part of the Liberian population it was also Since the UNLocK Early Warning System was included. established in 2008, participants have been UNLocK has focused on two counties in

Indicators

The 12 CAST indicators for which data is sought include social, economic, and political/military pressures on the state:

Social Economic Political/Military

Demographic Pressures Uneven Development Legitimacy of the State

Refugees or Displaced Persons Economy Public Services

Group Grievance Human Rights

Human Flight/Brain Drain Security Apparatus

Factionalized Elites

External Intervention

www.fundforpeace.org 4 The Fund for Peace UNLocK Liberia National Level Analysis

Measured by Content Analysis

While multiple factors play a role in Social and Demographic Pressures hindering Liberia’s recovery, perhaps the most salient issue is the inability of the 10 justice system to adequately address and resolve disputes. According to a report by the 8 Carter Center, 1 Liberia’s formal judicial system is widely believed to be riddled with corruption and most irregularities reported 6 are believed to be related to the influence of money and social power. 4

Many Liberians feel that the formal justice 2 system has failed to provide accessible, Relative Intensity Pressureof affordable, and timely services for their 0 communities and does not address root Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec causes of conflict as effectively as the customary system. These feelings were 2011 echoed on a recent field visit by the Fund for Peace and Liberia Democracy Watch, when Political and Security Pressures many individuals in Nimba County stated that the formal justice system actually 10 exacerbates land conflict and ethnic tensions and that taking a neighbor to court creates 8 tremendous animosity in the county.

Furthermore, individuals living in rural 6 communities often prefer customary law or traditional justice, believing that more 4 serious crimes are best handled by local chiefs, rather than the formal justice system. 2 These shortcomings of the judicial system are Relative Intensity Pressureof evident in the UNLocK reports from this time 0 period. For example, one report detailed Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec blatant bribery in a land dispute case, in which the judge was given $500 LD and a 2011 goat to influence his ruling in the case. In another instance, a report noted that a Nimba was highlighted. first in which the National Elections defendant was forced to pay an expensive, The failures of the justice system are also Commission was responsible for organizing non-refundable fee merely to bring his case widespread in Montserrado, and often all aspects of the electoral process without to court. Throughout many of the reports, the exacerbate the prevalence of violent crime, significant assistance or oversight from pervasiveness of corruption and lack of gender-based violence, and election international partners. With this public accessibility to the judicial system in irregularities. The 2011 elections were the independence came the assumption that the

1 Formal and informal justice in Liberia. Pewee Flomoku and Counsellor Lemuel Reeves

www.fundforpeace.org 5 The Fund for Peace Indicator Trends

system was corrupt. There were reports (and clarify election regulations and address security pressures (security apparatus, human several cases investigated and confirmed by disputes among candidates. rights, and state legitimacy) were the Carter Center) 2 that government officials associatedwith incidents of government at many levels denied opposition parties As a key institution of the state, the judiciary corruption, election irregularities, crime, access to public facilities to hold campaign plays an essential role in managing the social, media censorship, and police abuse as events. The failures of the judicial system in economic, and political pressures, as reported by UNLocK participants from Montserrado exacerbate political pressures measured by the CAST framework of analysis. multiple counties. These pressures were with allegations of voter fraud, campaign In 2011, those shocks and pressures were particularly acute in and around Montserrado fraud and election tampering. very high and the judiciary showed its county and the capital city of Monrovia. limitations and the need for more Nationally, corruption in the judicial system is representativeness, professionalization, and While Nimba and Montserrado face different well documented in country-wide reports legitimacy. Between February-April 2011, challenges, it is evident that government from UNLocK participants. One report alleged national spikes in social pressures (refugees corruption, particularly in the judiciary, that jurors and bailiffs are often bribed, while and IDPs, demographic pressures, and group contributes to the perpetuation of these others noted that the judiciary commonly grievance) were associated with the influx of issues. The inability of the justice system to forges paperwork to release criminals from Ivorian refugees into Nimba County as adequately address land conflict and election jail after a bribe has been paid. These reported by UNLocK participants. irregularities, delays the integration of allegations of corruption undermine Liberia’s Highlighting these pressures, residents of refugees, the improvement of public services, attempts to rebuild in the aftermath of the Nimba reportedly requested increased protection of human rights, and recovery war and contribute to the erosion of government security along their shared from the civil war. To bring lasting stability to government legitimacy. Furthermore, many border with Côte d’Ivoire during this time. Nimba, Montserrado and Liberia as a whole, of the election irregularities reported in The inability of the government to resettle the transparency and accountability of the Montserrado can be partially attributed to the refugees exacerbated existing land conflicts. judicial system must be significantly failures of the justice system to adequately Later in the year, spikes in political and improved.

2 Final Report National Elections in Liberia. The Carter Center March 2012

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Montserrado County Compared with Nimba County

Reports by Indicator: 2010

40 ofLaw Rule and Rights Human Percentage of reports per indicator =Montserrado

Demographic Pressures Pressures Demographic

State Legitimacy Legitimacy State = Nimba Public Services Services Public Security Apparatus Apparatus Security Factionalized Elites Elites Factionalized Uneven Economic Development Development Economic Uneven Human Flight and Brain Drain Drain Brain and Flight Human External Intervention Intervention External

20 Decline Economic Refugees and IDPs IDPs and Refugees Group Grievance Grievance Group

Reports by Indicator: 2011

Percentage of reports per indicator Public Services Services Public 40 State Legitimacy Legitimacy State

Demographic Pressures Pressures Demographic =Montserrado

Human Rights Rights Human = Nimba Security Apparatus Apparatus Security Elites Factionalized Uneven Economic Development Development Economic Uneven Human Flight and Brain Drain Drain Brain and Flight Human External Intervention Intervention External 20 Economic Decline Decline Economic Group Grievance Grievance Group Refugees and IDPs IDPs and Refugees

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Comparative Periodic Analysis: Indicator Trends

The charts on the previous page government corruption, police impunity and In 2010, reports of increased pressures on depict the percentage of incidents per abuses, gender-based violence, and demographic pressures made up a much indicator reported by UNLocK participants in inadequate public services like health, higher percentage of the total than in 2011, 2010 and 2011. Note that this graph allows education, water and sanitation. There were due to massive flooding and rainstorms that comparisons to be made between a given a number of reports relating to massive were reported. There were also reports indicator in one county and the same flooding in June and July. about the lack of public services, including indicator in the other county. Comparisons health, education, prisons, roads, food, and can also be made between a county’s In 2011, the majority of the reports were clean water. In addition, issues of land indicator in one time period and another time related to the election and related issues, conflict, local government and police period. However, comparisons should not be including reports of protests, intimidation of corruption, and gender based violence were made between two indicators in the same political opponents and journalists; and reported. county in the same time period. election irregularities. There were also other issues reported that were not directly related In 2011, due to political instability in Montserrado to the election such as corruption, gender- neighboring Cote d’Ivoire, Nimba county based violence and inadequate public became home to many fleeing Ivorian Montserrado is far more urban than Nimba, services including health and sanitation. refugees, putting increased pressure on the which contributes to a different conflict risk economy and public services such as profile detailed in the graphs. In Montserrado Nimba education and police protection. Additionally, the political and security related indicators inflation of fuel prices and smuggling of were much more salient than in Nimba, Nimba is considerably more rural than goods across the border to Guinea accounts especially regarding human rights in 2011. Montserrado, accounting for more stress in for the higher percentage of reports detailing the social and economic indicators such as economic pressures in 2011 than in 2010. Overall, there were more reports of gender- uneven economic development, economic Finally, various reports of government based violence, crime, government decline, lack of public services, and corruption surrounding the election account corruption, and police impunity, putting demographic pressures. Additionally, Nimba’s for the significantly higher percentage of greater pressure on the promulgation of shared border with Côte d’Ivoire accounts for reports relating to state legitimacy in 2011, human rights, state legitimacy, and the increased pressure on refugees and IDPs, and though in both years, state legitimacy issues security apparatus. Nimba’s long-standing ethnic tensions are a more salient problem in Montserrado. contributed to more land disputes and group In 2010, incidents reported concerned grievance reports.

www.fundforpeace.org 8 The Fund for Peace UNLocK Liberia Montserrado County

About Montserrado County

Montserrado County is the smallest county in Other problems abound in Montserrado. Liberia Liberia but is also the most populated, with a Government corruption and police impunity, population of 1,144,806 as of the 2008 for instance, is a frequently reported issue in Lofa census (out of a total of 3,042,004 for the Montserrado. Montserrado’s judiciary is Gbarpolu entire country.) Montserrado has four seriously understaffed and lacks adequate M P districts: Greater Monrovia, which includes all logistical support. Moreover, gender-based G Bong Nimba of the communities surrounding the capital; violence is an ongoing issue, and rape is one i Bomi ib g Todee, which is run by traditional chiefdoms of the most frequently reported crimes in the ar M Grand Montserrado and clan systems, with an economic emphasis county. Most young people in Montserrado Bassa s Grand Gedeh es C on farming; Careysburg, which is home to a have spent more time engaged in war than r e iv variety of Liberia’s ethnic groups; and St. Paul they have in a classroom. R Sinoe River, which relies on farming and fishing to River Gee promote economic livelihood, and only has Public services, such as hospitals, schools, G ran d K one paved road. clean water, and sanitation are inadequate. ru

Roads and bridges throughout the county are Maryland All 16 of Liberia’s main tribal groups are in terrible condition, and despite its large represented in Montserrado. The majority of urban development, 140 of Montserrado’s Liberia’s formal markets are found here, but villages cannot be accessed by vehicles many Liberians in Montserrado also engage in during the rainy season due to unpaved petty trading to make a living. Approximately surfaces. 80 percent of Montserrado’s population lacks access to steady employment. Unemployed According to the Montserrado County youth are susceptible to involvement in Development Agenda for 2008-2012, the top drugs, alcohol, and crime, creating a priorities identified by citizens of precarious security situation. The cost of Montserrado include improvement of roads, basic commodities continues to increase, health systems, and education. While these access to electricity is limited, and 10 percent issues have been a concerted priority of the of Liberians in Montserrado are considered government of Montserrado, frequent reports “food insecure.” The impact of the civil war, by UNLocK participants concerning public in particular the destruction and looting of services highlight the continued need for infrastructure, is still noticeable. improvement in these areas. Montserrado is home to many individuals who had been displaced by the civil war.

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Montserrado Timeline: UNLocK Incident Reports 2010

May June July

Period of Flooding

A police officer Massive floods overwhelmed The Minister of Public Violence erupted on the campus of the raped a teenage most parts of Monrovia, Works blames the University of Liberia, which left some girl while she was affecting the hundreds of constant floods in students wounded and properties damaged. kept in detention. people. The flood destroyed Monrovia to the over- several properties and made Seven houses were destroyed in the Salt some roads impassable. crowdedness of the city. There are many corruption Beach Community due to erosion. cases being investigated. Six officers of the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization Cases include financial mal- Due to heavy rains, several of Monrovia’s key (BIN) have been rounded up, charged with conspiracy and practices, privatization of political and commercial institutions have criminal facilitation for allegedly facilitating the escape of government property, failure been engulfed in a mix of dirty water and six Bangladeshi nationals suspected for their involvement in to implement funding projects garbage. human trafficking from the immigration cells in Monrovia. including funds from UNICEF

Montserrado Timeline: UNLocK Incident Reports 2011

January June October November

Period of Voter Registration Presidential Elections

Residents complained Even after education A journalist of the Truth FM radio The CDC allegedly expelled of being denied voter reform, some children station was attacked at his home by four of its party officials for registration based on remain the main bread- unknown men. not participating in a boy- their perceived winner in their families cott of the runoff election. nationality and are not attending schools. The Unity Party (UP) sub-office in District # 6 was allegedly burned down Two Liberian journalists Various election by unknown persons. were beaten by security offenses were Local infrastructure in guards during election reported during the Monrovia is insufficient campaigns Nine opposition parties declared the registration process, for the needs of a elections “fraudulent” and ordered including attempts to growing population. party agents to boycott all other register twice. processes.

www.fundforpeace.org 10 The Fund for Peace UNLocK Liberia Nimba County

About Nimba County

Nimba County, located in North in Nimba, to find them inhabited by other Liberia Central Liberia, has the second largest Liberians from the Gio and Mano groups. This population in the country. Nimba was deeply has sparked consistent land-based ethnic Lofa affected by the civil war, which devastated conflict conflict throughout Nimba. In basic infrastructure and disrupted addition, contested property makes it Gbarpolu

M development and livelihoods. Some ex- considerably more difficult to integrate P G Bong combatants in Nimba’s communities who did Ivorian refugees into communities in Nimba, Nimba i Bomi ib not benefit from reintegration programs as there is often confusion and uncertainty as g ar M Grand frequently engage in criminal activity. to land ownership. Montserrado Bassa s Grand Gedeh Infrastructure and public services such as es C r e iv roads, schools, power services, water, An influx of refugees along Nimba’s shared R sanitation, and health facilities are lacking. border with Côte d’Ivoire has put even Sinoe River Gee Land and property disputes continue to be a greater pressure on demographic pressures G ran source of serious conflict in Nimba due to and public services. According to UNHCR, d K ru traditional and historical claims to land. there are approximately 120,000 Ivorian Additionally, the land tenure system is refugees living in Liberia. As of January 2012, Maryland confusing and ambiguous, and many IDPs 21,710 of these registered refugees are return to their homes only to find them living in Nimba County, mostly in refugee Nimba County occupied by other people. camps and relocation villages in Gbehlay- Sanniquellie-Mah Geh, Zoegeh, and Kbarplee districts. In August Gbehlay-Geh Bain-Garr Limited employment opportunities, gender- 2011, the Governments of Liberia and Cote based violence, mismanagement of d’Ivoire, along with UNHCR, signed an Zoegeh development funds, and local police and agreement on the voluntary repatriation of Saclepea-Mah Kparblee government corruption are major problems in Ivorian refugees. Many Ivorians fear returning Nimba. The population is frustrated by the home, as they believe that the war is not yet low capacity of the judicial system to over. UNHCR aims to provide all basic needs Tappita

adequately represent the poor. Citizens are to refugees, including food, water, shelter, Yarwein- often charged illegal fees just to bring their health, and education, needs not enjoyed by Mehnsohnneh cases to court. The education system in many local residents causing resentment. Nimba is in a serious state of disrepair; 35 percent of the population has never attended This influx of refugees has put a strain on school, and illiteracy is high among children Liberia’s public services. Healthcare and and young people. Women and girls continue education are severely lacking in Liberia, to have limited access to education, health particularly in the rural parts of Nimba where services, and the judicial system, which many of the refugees are living. Food and inhibits their full integration into society. water shortages are serious issues, and lack of communication makes it difficult for The return of Liberian refugees from Guinea, Ivorians to determine when it might be safe who fled the country during the bloody civil to return home, prolonging their stay in war, has exacerbated demographic pressures Liberia. Furthermore, as Ivorian refugees stay and ethnic tensions, particularly in Nimba in Liberia, there is even greater pressure on County. Many Liberians, primarily of the these services as the government attempts to Mandingo ethnic group, return to their homes integrate the refugees into the economy and

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Reports by District: Nimba County the education system. Additionally, the poor respect to the judiciary system. Additionally, infrastructure in Nimba makes it difficult to goods are frequently smuggled into get supplies to refugee camps, during the neighboring Guinea, causing inflation and an rainy season in particular. Flooding resulted increase on economic pressures. Both in collapsed bridges and washed-out Gbehlay-Geh and Zoegeh districts

30 Yarwein-Mehnsonneh roadways, which greatly hindered experienced significant pressures on transportation in the region. The severe refugees and IDPs due to its shared border underdevelopment in Nimba makes it a with Côte d’Ivoire. Many small villages are difficult place for refugees to integrate into overrun with refugees, and food supply is low the economy. and sanitation is poor. Additionally, in

15 Sanniquelleh-Mahn Gbehlay-Geh, flooding and land conflict have

Kparblee Kparblee Sanniquellie-Mah District put greater pressure on demographic

Tappita Tappita pressures and public services. In Bain Garr, Gbehlegeh Gbehlegeh Bain Garr Garr Bain

Saclepea Saclepea The district of Sanniquellie-Mah is home to ethnic conflict and land competition is Zoegeh Zoegeh Sanniquellie, Nimba’s capital and the seat of rampant, and water and sanitation services the local government. Reports of government are seriously lacking.

0 corruption are frequent, particularly in

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Nimba Timeline: UNLocK Incident Reports 2010

February March April September October

Period of Flooding Period of Ethnic Tensions

The police arrest Due to lack of A storm destroyed 25 Land competition is still Members of the Manos group two men with two quality education, houses in Gbehlay-Geh rampant despite many are marginalizing and deny- bags of marijuana; students experience District, leaving 100 occu- attempts to solve the ing farmland to members of rather than mass failure in pant homeless in the area. problem. the Gio tribe. destroying it, they public test. use it for profit. The new hospital in Tappita Heavy storms hit A prominent businesman is not open because there are Sanniquelleh City, rolled over the leg of a young not enough doctors. partially destroying man several times with his several residential vehicle. The police are reluc- areas. tant to investigate the inci- Members of the Bassa ethnic dent because the group are denied jobs at businessman is wealthy. Mittal Steel.

Timeline: UNLocK Incident Reports 2011

January March May October November

Crisis in Cote d’Ivoire Presidential Elections

A judge was A political candidate transported voters The hospital in Refugees from The cost of driving long bribed to rule Tappita is still Cote d’Ivoire have to Nimba County gain more votes for distances to health unfairly in a himself. centers makes it difficult not open. overwhelmed the land dispute for many people to get only high school in case. During the election period, many people treatment. Butuo, disrupting Citizens of Butuo, fled to Ganta in anticipation of possible normal activities. Sanniquellie near Liberia’s border violence. Land disputes between lacks safe the Mano and Mandingo with Cote d’Ivoire, drinking The road system makes it difficult for continue. demand that the water. voters to get to the polls government of Teachers have been Liberia provide Several bridges throughout Nimba are Ballot recount requested in Nimba after unpaid, and lack of more security in that damaged due to heavy storms, making Representative candidate alleges fraud. textbooks and other area. transportation difficult or impossible in supplies prevent many places. students from doing homework.

www.fundforpeace.org 13 The Fund for Peace UNLocK Liberia Conclusion

Looking Ahead

Liberia continues to struggle with a economic indicators, necessitating greater However despite the strengths that Liberia variety of political, social, and economic political and judicial reforms that can lead to has shown over the past year, continued work issues that have persisted in the aftermath of an enhanced form of democracy. Throughout is needed. Within the realm of the judiciary, two brutal civil conflicts. Despite some 2011, Liberia withstood enormous shocks more reform and strengthening is needed; movement towards peace, the country and pressures from refugees coming in from issues of corruption, both actual and continues to be plagued by a number of Cote d’Ivoire, elections and broader security perceived, continue to be prevalent. Access issues, primarily political and judicial in issues. The fact that the state was able to to fair and formal justice is a service that nature. In fact, data from CAST shows that hold up against these pressures, something needs to be provided for the country to grow. Liberia as a whole has worsened in the last that would not have been possible in years year in terms of political, social, and past, shows growth and consolidation.

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About The Fund for Peace

The Fund for Peace is an states. We work at both the grassroots level independent, nonpartisan, 501(c)(3) non- with civil society actors and at policy levels profit research and educational organization with key decision makers. We have worked in that works to prevent violent conflict and over 50 countries with a wide range of promote sustainable security. partners in all sectors: governments, 55th Anniversary 1957-2012 international organizations, the military, We promote sustainable security through nongovernmental organizations, academics, www. fund for peace .org research, training and education, engagement journalists, civil society networks, and the of civil society, building bridges across private sector. diverse sectors, and developing innovative technologies and tools for policy makers. The Fund for Peace offers a wide range of initiatives focused on our central objective: A leader in the conflict assessment and early to promote sustainable security and the warning field, the Fund for Peace focuses on ability of a state to solve its own problems the problems of weak and failing states. Our peacefully without an external military or objective is to create practical tools and administrative presence. Our programs fall approaches for conflict mitigation that are into three primary thematic areas: useful to decision-makers. • Conflict Early Warning and Assessment;

• Transnational Threats; and The Fund for Peace adopts a holistic approach • Sustainable Development, Sustainable to the issues stemming from weak and failing Security. About Liberia Democracy Watch

Liberia Democracy Watch was collection of local elections observers group established in late 1996 in the build up to the funded by the National Democratic Institute 1997 elections in Liberia. The organization (NDI) which comprised the Catholic Justice was founded by a group of university and Peace Commission (JPC), FOCUS and graduates envisioned a society devoid of many other local organizations. Between socio-political abuses, corruption and the 1997 and 2005, Liberia was wrought with weaning respect for the rule of law. As part socio-political and economic abuses of its first engagement, LDW was a founding necessitating the shift to human rights and member of the elections observatory group: related issues. Liberia Elections Observers Network (LEON), a www. liberia democracy watch .org

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