e story of UNMIL United Nations Mission in Liberia >>Return to table of contents<< >>Return to table of contents<< The story of UNMIL >>Return to table of contents<< Dedication This book is dedicated, first and foremost, to the people of Liberia, whose resilience and determination have lifted their country from the ashes of war to attain 14 years of peace. 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 and support the peace that Liberians enjoy today. The flags of the United Nations and Liberia fly side by side at the UNMIL Headquarters in Monrovia, Liberia. Photo: Staton Winter | UNMIL | 13 May 11 >>Return to table of contents<< Table of Contents Dedication ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 2 António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations (2016-) .....................................................................................6 Preface ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 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 Bibi-Masumeh Eng, Chief of Staff .............................................................................................................................................40 Leading the orchestra ....................................................................................................................................................................... 40 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 >>Return to table of contents<< K. Leigh Robinson, Head of the Public Information Office ....................................................................................................52 Sowing the seeds of change ............................................................................................................................................................... 52 Eva Flomo, a passion for reporting on peace ...........................................................................................................................................54 UNMIL Radio: keeping Liberians informed ..........................................................................................................................................58 Waldemar Vrey, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Political and Rule of Law ..............................60 Rule of law involves creating people-focused institutions ................................................................................................................... 60 Widening ownership of the security sector reform process .....................................................................................................................62 Generating gender diversity and sensitivity within security sector institutions .......................................................................................65 Use of quick-impact project funding in the rule of law sector .................................................................................................................68 2017 elections and the rule of law ...........................................................................................................................................................70 Major General Salihu Zaway Uba, Force Commander ............................................................................................................72 A force for peace in Liberia ............................................................................................................................................................... 72 Joint Analysis and Operations Centre, keeping the Mission informed ...................................................................................................73 Bailey bridge - connecting Liberia ..........................................................................................................................................................75 Capacity-building helps community to its feet .......................................................................................................................................77 Inter-mission cooperation .......................................................................................................................................................................78 Simon Blatchly, Police Commissioner .......................................................................................................................................80 Establishing policing to serve communities ....................................................................................................................................... 80 UN Police take on Ebola.........................................................................................................................................................................81 UN Police safeguard elections .................................................................................................................................................................82 Liberian security counterparts on contribution of UN Police .................................................................................................................84