Vol. 5, No. 04 UN FOCUS June - August 2009 Clinton, DPKO Chief Visit Liberia Peacekeepers Mentor AFL Banking in the Soil Message from the Special Representative of the Secretary-General Johnson Sirleaf, the UN Country Team development of the LNP and the areas and a cross-section of Liberian stake- that require international community’s holders to assess Liberia’s continued support, including that of the United need for international support. He com- States, to ensure that the LNP is opera- mended the outstanding progress tionally independent. UNMIL and the Government has made Nearly six years after its launch, in ensuring peace and security in Liberia’s Disarmament, Liberia and stressed the country’s need Demobilization, Reintegration and for continued support and assistance Rehabilitation (DDRR) programme was from the international community. officially closed by President Johnson Another distinguished visitor to Sirleaf in July. The programme, spear- Liberia in June was the new United headed by the Liberian Government Nations Development Programme and UNMIL and supported by multilat- (UNDP) Administrator, Helen Clark. eral and bilateral partners, succeeded in As an indication of the priority that disarming 103,019 former combatants. UNDP attributes to Liberia’s efforts Of the disarmed and demobilized com- towards recovery and development, batants, approximately 98,000 partici- Liberia was her first international trip pated in vocational training and formal since taking up her new assignment. In education schemes aimed at helping iberia continues to play addition to meeting President Ellen them earn a livelihood. The DDRR pro- host to important personal- Johnson Sirleaf, she held discussions gramme’s success is testimony to the ities whose visits to the with senior government officials, return of peace and stability in Liberia. country underscore the UNMIL and the UN agencies, repre- The peaceful celebration of the importance the internation- sentatives of women’s groups and country’s 162nd independence anniver- Lal community attaches to Liberia’s sus- donor institutions. She reiterated her sary was a time of hope and encourage- tained progress towards peace and agency’s strong commitment to support ment for the people of Liberia. After development. Closely following the technical and vocational capacity build- many devastating years of civil war, Security Council delegation’s recent ing to enable Liberia to achieve its Liberians now look forward to the visit, Under-Secretary-General Alain development goals. prospect of a better future. The recently Le Roy, who is in charge of all UN The US Secretary of State, Hillary released report of the TRC presents peacekeeping operations worldwide, Rodham Clinton, paid a visit to Liberia both opportunities and challenges to the visited Liberia in June to have first- in August during which she met with process of reconciliation based on hand knowledge of the progress we President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and peace and justice. As the Secretary- have made in consolidating the peace addressed a joint session of the legisla- General stated, it is up to the Liberians and the remaining challenges that ture. She also visited the National to decide how to move the process of require joint effort by UN, Police Training Academy, which gave reconciliation forward. I therefore urge Government of Liberia and partners. UNMIL the opportunity to highlight all Liberians to approach the issue with He held talks with President Ellen the progress that has been made in the a sense of responsibility. Ellen Margrethe Løj Special Representative of the Secretary-General and Coordinator of United Nations Operations in Liberia 2 UN FOCUS June - August 2009 IN THIS ISSUE 04 Liberia a powerful example, says 04 Clinton 06 DPKO Head Pleased With Progress 04 in Liberia 28 UNMIL Mentors New AFL 10 Getting Set for Life After UNMIL 12 UNDP Administrator Satisfied with 14 Liberia's Progress 14 Banking in the Soil 16 Interview: Alain Le Roy 18 Planting for the Planet, and Liberia 20 Unification Town Gets Magisterial 16 Court 22 Polio Resurfaces 24 TB: Rising Resistance to Drugs 26 Confronting Climate Change 4 27 Dealing with Disaster Mathew Elavanalthoduka/UNMIL 28 Nigerians: “The Face of UNMIL” 29 TRC Ends Mandate During a whistle-stop visit to Liberia in August, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton offered unstinting support to Liberia's peace process calling the coun- 30 Liberians Speak try an example of successful transition from lawlessness to democracy, and promised additional financial support for the training of the Liberia National Police. Chief of Public Information George Somerwill Editor and Head of Publications Mathew Elavanalthoduka Staff Writers Sulaiman Momodu J. Wesley Washington 6 8 Design and Graphics Paddy Defoxy Ilos, II Thomas Blidi Visiting Liberia in June as part of a In a unique departure from tradition- Photos four-nation West African tour, DPKO al peacekeeping, UNMIL peace- Emmanuel S. Tobey head Alain Le Roy expressed satis- keepers have been mentoring mem- faction over the progress being bers of the restructured Armed made by UNMIL and the Liberian Forces of Liberia with a view to Published by the Public Information government in securing peace and enhancing their skills in rehabilitation Office, United Nations Mission in security in the country. and reconstruction work. Liberia www.unmil.org [email protected] Printed by Buck Press Ltd., Accra, Ghana June - August 2009 UN FOCUS 3 Clin Liberia a powerful exam espite pouring rain, hun- being trained with financial and technical ognize the investment that has been made dreds of Liberians lined up support from the United States, the UN in them but pointed out that there are along the main streets of Police and other partners as part of the greater challenges the LNP is facing as Monrovia to welcome US country’s security sector reform, Clinton some elements of the Liberian police force Secretary of State Hillary thanked Special Representative of the UN had betrayed the public trust in the past. DRodham Clinton who was on a whistle- Secretary-General Ellen Margrethe Løj for She quoted President Barack Obama’s stop visit to Liberia in the second week of “her outstanding work as head of the UN recent address in the Ghanaian capital August. And her key message of unstint- Mission in Liberia.” Accra that urged Africans to take control ing support for the country’s efforts to Since its deployment in 2003, the UN of their destiny and strive for the peace consolidate peace and reconciliation was Mission has been assisting to restructure and security necessary for progress. “For unequivocal and inspiring. “I am very the Liberian police force. While acknowl- too long in Liberia, the police instilled supportive of actions that will lead to the edging that training professional police fear. Today, you must fight fear. For too peace, reconciliation and unity of Liberia,” officers was one of the hardest jobs to do long, the police undermined the rule of she said, and urged the people of Liberia to in post-conflict situations, Clinton law. Today, you must uphold it,” she urged continue to speak out against corruption. described maintaining law and order as “a the LNP personnel. She lauded women Emerging from 14 years of civil con- critical element in sustaining peace and who have joined the force, stressing that flict, security issues are very close to the stability” and emphasized that Liberians, it has been found around the world that heart of Liberians. Speaking at the particularly the women and children, need women police officers are essential, along National Police Training Academy on the the LNP not only to protect them but to with their male counterparts, to provide outskirts of Monrovia, where members of heal the wounds left by years of conflict. the stability of peace and security. the new Liberia National Police (LNP) are Clinton encouraged the recruits to rec- U.S. police officers and advisors have 4 UN FOCUS June - August 2009 the challenges facing the LNP, the UN policies and is seeing strong economic envoy said: “Even the best trained police growth. It’s impressive the way that officer needs means of transportation; Liberia has decreased its debt which had means of communication; a police station run up during years of conflict and has had to work from; a place to live -- just to a high rate of Gross Domestic Product name a few of the logistical needs. (GDP) growth in the last few years,” she Without that they will not be able to func- noted, praising Africa’s first elected tion. Without that they will not be able to female President for her accomplishments respond to crime incidents and thus be since coming to power in 2006. “I look at able to gain the trust and confidence of the what President Sirleaf has done over the community they serve.” past three years and I see a very accom- Since the restructuring of LNP began plished leader,” she said. in 2004, over 3,700 officers have been Alluding to the 2011 Presidential elec- trained so far. Currently 14 per cent of all tion, Clinton urged lawmakers that while LNP officers are female. For the ERU, a hard fought elections are part of a democ- fourth class of 80 recruits is currently racy, opponents must close ranks when the undergoing training. election is over. She stressed that democ- Prior to visiting the police academy, racy depended on good governance, Clinton addressed the media following a adherence to the rule of law, and sound meeting with President Ellen Johnson economic policies, and announced that the Sirleaf and her cabinet, and later addressed US will be contributing US$17.5 million a joint session of the Liberian National for programmes to help Liberia ensure that Legislature.“We think Liberia is on the the 2011elections are free and fair.