e story of UNMIL United Nations Mission in Liberia The story of UNMIL Dedication Table of Contents This book is dedicated, first and foremost, to the people of Liberia, whose resilience and determination have lifted their country Dedication ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 from the ashes of war to attain 14 years of peace. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (2016-) .....................................................................................6 It is also dedicated to all United Nations personnel who have worked in Liberia since 2003, and those colleagues who lost their lives while serving with UNMIL--all of whom made invaluable sacrifices, leaving behind their families and loved ones to help consolidate Preface ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 and support the peace that Liberians enjoy today. His Excellency Mr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia (2018-) .....................................................8 Excerpts from the new President’s inaugural address on 22 January 2018 ............................................................................................. 8 Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia (2005-2018) .....................................12 EJS and UNMIL .............................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Timeline of key events ...................................................................................................................................................................... 14 Jacques Paul Klein, Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (2003-2005) ...............18 Earning respect at the Mission’s outset .............................................................................................................................................. 18 Alan Doss, Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (2005-2007) ..............................20 Supporting Liberia’s rebuilding and new President’s priorities............................................................................................................ 20 Ellen Margrethe Løj, Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (2008-2012) ............22 Keeping Liberia stable while building the peace ................................................................................................................................. 22 Karin Landgren, Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative of the Secretary-General (2012-2015) ....................24 Staying strong during Ebola .............................................................................................................................................................. 24 Farid Zarif, Under-Secretary-General, Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (2015-2018) ................................................................................................26 Mutual accountability must be fundamental to peacekeeping ............................................................................................................. 26 The election of President George Weah ..................................................................................................................................................31 Leading the Mission to a close ...............................................................................................................................................................35 Proposal for a Christian state risks hard-won calm .................................................................................................................................36 Obasanjo visit promotes acceptance of election results ...........................................................................................................................38 Engagements with political parties in advance of 2017 elections ...........................................................................................................39 The flags of the United Nations and Liberia Bibi-Masumeh Eng, Chief of Staff .............................................................................................................................................40 fly side by side at the UNMIL Headquarters in Monrovia, Liberia. Leading the orchestra ....................................................................................................................................................................... 40 Photo: Staton Winter | UNMIL | 13 May 11 UNMIL paves the way for ECOWAS Radio .........................................................................................................................................42 Conduct and discipline team raises awareness, helps victims recover ......................................................................................................47 UNMIL uses e-diplomacy for broader reach and longer legacy ..............................................................................................................48 QIPS: projects for peace..........................................................................................................................................................................50 Table of Contents 3 K. Leigh Robinson, Head of the Public Information Office ....................................................................................................52 Yacoub El Hillo, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General and UN Resident Coordinator Sowing the seeds of change ............................................................................................................................................................... 52 and UNDP Resident Representative in Liberia ...................................................................................................................... 114 Eva Flomo, a passion for reporting on peace ...........................................................................................................................................54 Liberia’s future depends on consolidating the gains of peace ..............................................................................................................114 UNMIL Radio: keeping Liberians informed ..........................................................................................................................................58 DDR lets ex-combatants find new lives ................................................................................................................................................117 UNMIL field office helps resolve local dispute .....................................................................................................................................118 Waldemar Vrey, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Political and Rule of Law ..............................60 UNMIL national staff help Liberia wrest control of its resources.........................................................................................................120 Rule of law involves creating people-focused institutions ................................................................................................................... 60 Basic services arrive in the countryside .................................................................................................................................................123 Widening ownership of the security sector reform process .....................................................................................................................62 Francis Kai-Kai, Chief of Peace Consolidation Services ....................................................................................................... 126 Generating gender diversity and sensitivity within security sector institutions .......................................................................................65 Extending and consolidating the peace process .................................................................................................................................126 Use of quick-impact project funding in the rule of law sector .................................................................................................................68 Governance and Economic Management Assistance Programme (GEMAP) .....................................................................................129 2017 elections and the rule of law ...........................................................................................................................................................70 County reconciliation dialogues ............................................................................................................................................................131 Major General Salihu Zaway Uba, Force Commander ............................................................................................................72 The Liberia Peacebuilding Plan ...........................................................................................................................................................132