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Liberia:No More Arms Embago

21 December 2009

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When the world was unanimous in the early 1990s that the then divided Liberia was the exporter of violence to the ECOWAS subregion, the UN slammed an arms embargo on rebels in the so-called "Greater Liberia" and the transitional government in Monrovia.

Even though critics say the embargo did very little to stop the flow of arms and spread of violence to the subregion, it remained the symbol of UN's disapproval of arms falling into the hands of belligerent non-state actors and international arm-for-gemstone smugglers.

The global policeman says the threat has dissipated and that it is now time to let go.

The Analyst Staff has been looking at the reasons, strings attached, and implications of ending the embargo. UN Security Council (UNSC) has "adjusted" the arms embargo it imposed on Liberia some 17 years ago, making way for Liberia to help fight domestic crimes, and track and control arms movement as well as help secure its porous borders from pirates and smugglers.

The UNSC voted unanimous last Thursday in a meeting that lasted barely four minutes to authorize Liberia, for a 12-month trial period, to acquire certain military materiel for defensive purposes.

"[The UNSC decides that the measures on arms... shall not apply to the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel and the provision of any assistance, advice or training, related to military activities, to the government of Liberia..." says Resolution 1903, which holds that UNMIL remains in charge of security in Liberia.

The resolution says the UNMIL factor in Liberia's security equation remains significant because it has determined that despite the significant progress being made in Liberia, the situation there continued to constitute a threat to international peace and security in the region. The resolution also extended the 6-year-old asset-freeze regulation on former Taylor associates.

Reasons, Strings Attached

The resolution, which is based on the force of the recommendation contained in the December 11, 2009 Report of the UN Panel of Experts, said existing condition inside Liberia, plus the fact that the Sirleaf Administration has cooperated with UNMIL in its arms tracking and control program necessitated the end of the embargo.

"The Panel has not found any concrete evidence of major actual or attempted violations of the arms embargo. The national capacity of the Liberian Government to control weapons and to provide security to its citizens remains low, which is of particular concern to the Panel given the volatile regional situation in Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire," says the Report of the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1521 (2003) concerning Liberia. The report was signed by Chairman Abdurrahman Mohamed Shalgham.

In June 2009, according to the report, the Government of Liberia completed its internal process of ratification of the "Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons, Their Ammunition and Other Related Materials of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)" but that it has yet to deposit its instrument of ratification with the ECOWAS secretariat.

It is not clear what Liberia's delay in depositing the instrument of ratification would mean to its chances of acquiring arms to equip its security forces, but the unanimous resolution welcomed the "sustained progress made by the Government of Liberia since January 2006, in rebuilding Liberia for the benefit of all Liberians, with the support of the international community".

The resolution said more instructive to the decision of UNSC was the fact that Government of Liberia had cooperated with UNMIL in weapons marking, even though it noted that insufficient progress has been made towards that end. It did not say who was responsible for the slow or lack of sufficient progress.

But it encouraged all stakeholders, including donors, to support the Government of Liberia in its efforts to meet the conditions of the resolution, which regard appropriate enforcement of the Kimberly diamond scheme for Liberia vis-à-vis border smuggling especially from neighboring Cote d'Ivoire.

It was however quick to note that there were more steep hills to climb in order to control border problems associated with arms-for-diamond trading believed to be sprouting alone the Guinea-to-Liberia-Cote d'Ivoire-to-Liberia contraband axis. As with every worthwhile opportunity comes responsibility, UNSC has demanded that the government of Liberia make all efforts necessary to enforce the asset freeze imposed against sanctioned persons and entities, which, it affirmed, was still in force.

The resolution stressed what it called the "continuing importance" of UNMIL in improving security throughout Liberia and helping the government establish its authority throughout the country, particularly in the diamond, timber, and other natural resources-producing regions, and border areas. This implies to observers that the now embargo-free Liberia would be required to play central role in deciding the level, intensity, and direction of its security programs and plan - both domestic and external.

The Council noted that acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, it has decided that all states take the necessary measures to prevent the direct or indirect supply, sale or transfer, of weaponries from their territories to Liberia.

It mandated further that the states must also ensure that their nationals, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, do not transfer or sell arms and any related materiel, or provide assistance to any assistance, advice or training related to military activities.

The restrictions, it said, included financing and financial assistance, to all non-governmental entities and individuals operating in the territory of Liberia for a period of 12 months as of December 17, 2009. It did not say what would happen with regards to such activities beyond the stated period, but it noted that the restriction on non-state actors did not include UNMIL and troops contributing countries.

The Resolution makes allowance for troop contributing countries and UN to supply arms and related materiel as well as technical training and assistance intended solely for support of or use by the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). The United Nations is also permitted to supply protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets for the use of UNMIL. Representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel may also import such non-weapon materiel for the use of their personnel.

Also allowable under the arms embargo adjustment is the supply of other non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use, and related technical assistance and training, as notified in advance to the UN Committee established for the purpose.

"[The UNSC] decides, for the period time set forth ...that all States shall notify in advance to the Committee any shipment of arms and related materiel to the Government of Liberia, or any provision of assistance, advice or training related to military activities for the Government of Liberia." the resolution says.

UNMIL is exempt from the advance notice requirement, which UNSC said must state clearly, where applicable, the type and quantity of weapons and ammunitions delivered, the end-user, the proposed date of delivery and the itinerary of shipments.

It then noted that the Government of Liberia shall subsequently mark the weapons and ammunition, maintain a registry of them, and formally notify the Committee that these steps have been taken.

It said once a year, the UNSC would review the measures imposed; it has therefore directed the Committee, in coordination with the relevant designating states and with the assistance of the Panel of Experts, to update as necessary the publicly available reasons for listing for entries on the travel ban and assets freeze lists as well as the Committee's guidelines. Once the Liberian government met the requirements for the permanent end of the arms embargo and provided justification, UNSC said would not hesitate to act accordingly.

But what was necessary in the interim, the resolution says, was for "all states" and the Sirleaf Administration to cooperate fully with the Panel of Experts in all the aspects of its mandate, which includes monitoring of the Liberian government cooperation with the 2009 Kimberley Process review team to strengthen internal controls over diamond mining and exports.

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UN Hails First Female Winner of National Youth Music Contest HOME Site FrançaisSite GuideWho We AreContent ProvidersAdvertisingMy AccountMyAfricaBiztechSustainablePeaceMobile Liberia:UN Hails First Female Winner of National Youth Music Contest 21 December 2009 Email| Print| Comment(1) Share: United Nations officials in Liberia have congratulated 19-year-old Vivian Akoto on becoming the first female to win A Star is Born, a youth competition which since 2006 has used music as an instrument for social change, national unity, and an agent to promote peace and development in the West African country. Speaking at the finale held at the weekend in Monrovia, the Secretary-General's Deputy Special Representative for Recovery and Governance, Moustapha Soumare, said that "investing in young people is investing in the future; the performances we have seen this evening indicate to all of us that the future of this country is very bright indeed." 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"This year's competition was intended to promote the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) priorities and raise awareness of the critical issues to be addressed in order to continue to build a strong and peaceful Liberia," he noted. The competition, now in its fourth year, has fulfilled its purpose through the voices and initiatives of the past winners of the competition, said the DSRSG. "Investing in young people is investing in the future; the performances we have seen this evening indicate to all of us that the future of this country is very bright indeed." He expressed optimism that "A Star is Born" will continue to discover the bright light of the young stars of Liberia: "the light that will illuminate the way for this country's successful future". 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U.S. General Meets With President Johnson-Sirleaf HOME Site FrançaisSite GuideWho We AreContent ProvidersAdvertisingMy AccountMyAfricaBiztechSustainablePeaceMobile Liberia:U.S. General Meets With President Johnson-Sirleaf 22 December 2009 Email| Print| Comment Share: The Assistant Commander of the Marine Corps General James F. Amos Sunday paid a courtesy call on President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in Monrovia. The meeting between the Liberian President and General Amos covered areas of cooperation between Liberia and the United States military in the field of training. Collaboration on the control of narcotics and support for the Coast Guard as well as Liberia's Defense Sector Reform were also discussed. An Executive Mansion release says the President welcomed General Amos to Liberia and lauded the strong partnership existing between Liberia and the United States. She praised the US government for the support it has provided in helping to restructure the Liberian military. 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Gov't Feels Wind of Change HOME Site FrançaisSite GuideWho We AreContent ProvidersAdvertisingMy AccountMyAfricaBiztechSustainablePeaceMobile Liberia:Gov't Feels Wind of Change 21 December 2009 Email| Print| Comment(1) Share: President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has described as "sign for strong partnership" actions by some major corporations in the country to give back voluntarily to the communities in which they are working and investing. An Executive Mansion press statement signed and issued over the weekend by Presidential Press Secretary Cyrus Badio said it has been the dream and administration goal of President Sirleaf to see the corporations meet their social obligations to the community without being mandated or coerced by government to do so. "Over the years, local communities have reaped little benefits from these investments. However, a wind of change is now blowing across the land," the release said. According to the release, the private business entities were increasingly responding positively to the President's insistence, requiring them to fulfill their social obligations to the communities in furtherance of the government's development agenda. The release did not say whether the government has set into place mechanism for evaluating the quality, relevance, usability, and durability what goes back into the community from the corporation's goodwill since such give would be counted as development achievements, but it cited progress beginning with community improvement within the camps of the Firestone Rubber Plantations in Margibi County. It said due to President Sirleaf's persistence that the company improve the living condition of the workers, which temporarily ran counter to the employees' wishes because they wanted increased wage to any things else, the company, acknowledging its shortcomings in these areas, responded. "Today, the living conditions of workers at Firestone is much better off than it was fear years ago," the release said. Just recently, the company turned over to Government a structure, which houses science courses at the University of Liberia's main campus following successful renovation work by the company. The building, coincidently, is named in honor of the company's founder, Harvey Firestone, the release said. "The contribution by Firestone is one in several other support private corporations and individuals are provided in response to the President's call for commitment to the communities," the release said. Besides Firestone, it said, the MacBain Foundation, Gorge Soros's Open Society Initiative, the Liberia Education Trust, the Sirleaf Market Women Fund, Ambassador David Straz, Foundation for Women, were just few of the companies that have responded to the President's call by supporting Liberia and buttressing government's development programs. 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The project, funded by LISCRC, is part of the entity's commitment to uplift Liberia. "We will demonstrate more commitment to social responsibility as a responsible corporate partner," the LISCR Vice President, Joseph Kelleh, assured the Liberian leader who expressed her satisfaction about corporations responding to her call. "This is exactly what we want to see, especially when it is being done this Christmas season," the President noted. Relevant Links West Africa Liberia Driving home further the principle of giving, the President appealed to the consciences of those who can to extend a helping hand to the unfortunate ones. "Just think about it; if every bottle of whisky you buy is spent on a bag of rice, you could feed about one-hundred children this Christmas." The spirit of giving was undoubtedly paramount on the President's plate when she visited her ancestral towns of Korma and Julejuah, in Bomi County, sitting and chatting with family members and other community dwellers and sharing gifts among residents including mothers and children. The President takes Christmas on the road again this year, by spending the day in Belle Yallah, a town famous for the political prisons where past governments locked up dissidents. For the first time, in the history of the nation, that town is being linked to the rest of the country by road. More than a Christmas gift, the opening of a motor road to Belle Yallah was a clear sign of changes that were reaching every corner of the Liberian nation under President Sirleaf's leadership. Read comments. Write your own. More News on allAfrica.com Ex-Music Parlour Boss Khuzwayo Dies allAfrica.com: Liberia: Gov't Feels Wind of Change GS_googleAddAdSenseService("ca-pub-2420009840005975"); GS_googleEnableAllServices(); GA_googleAddAttr("Language", "english"); GA_googleAddAttr("Countries", "liberia"); GA_googleAddAttr("Countries", "westafrica"); GA_googleAddSlot( "ca-pub-2420009840005975" , "AllAfrica_Story_L... GAC Provides Clarity HOME Site FrançaisSite GuideWho We AreContent ProvidersAdvertisingMy AccountMyAfricaBiztechSustainablePeaceMobile Liberia:GAC Provides Clarity 22 December 2009 Email| Print| Comment Share: The General Auditing Commission (GAC) says it is concerned about the continued mistaken comparison often made in some quarters regarding salaries earned by high public officials, particularly salaries and benefits received by Auditor General John S. Morlu, II and other public officials, including Maritime Commissioner Beyan Keselly. A press release quotes GAC Director of Communications Ernest S. Maximore as saying that the GAC was commenting to the mistaken comparison and analysis occasioning the high salary debate because the public is being fed with half-baked truths and faulty analogies. GAC observes that the false salary comparison has often been made between internationally paid Auditor General Morlu and former Minister Sayeh on the one hand and individuals, including the Maritime boss who are paid from Liberian taxpayers monies on the other. According to GAC release, Auditor General Morlu and Maritime Commissioner Biyan Kessely do not fall in the same category and comparing the salaries of the two without mentioning the distinctive features and conditions is a disincentive to the public, and that it betrays the purpose and intent of the salary debate. The releases says the facts of the salary comparison often shoved under the carpet is that unlike Maritime Commissioner Kessely who, like any other minister, was singularly handpicked and appointed by President Sirleaf and paid from the country's Maritime holdings, Auditor General Morlu is directly paid from and by European Union's taxpayers and following competitive bidding which was advertised and published in more than 150 countries and attracting more than 140 applicants comprising Liberians and non-Liberians. GAC release says unlike Maritime's Kessely who does not have to submit monthly time sheet and invoices to justify every hour worked in Liberia and to document his performance, AG Morlu does not have such a luxury of loitering but sends his working time sheet every month to the EU documenting every hour of work. The GAC release says it makes more logic and sense to justify Kasselly's "highest" pay salary on the basis of the merit of his case, than on a highly incorrect comparison with AG Morlu's. Besides, the release added, Commissioner Kesselly does not have the same level of education, experience and professional credential as AG Morlu nor does he have the same level of responsibility as an Auditor General. GAC says such comparison is like comparing all the GEMAP people, World Bank Consultants, ADB Consultants, IMF Consultants, and US Consultants with local staff. Perhaps, AG Morlu's only curse is that he is a Liberian and those consultants are non-Liberians. GAC says it is sure that every minister or head of a Commission or public corporation would like to be paid like Kesselly. After all, their recruitment process was the same as was everyone else. GAC release rhetorically asked: Does Kesselly have more experience, education and credential than the Minister of Finance, Minister of Planning, Minister of Public Works, Minister of Post, NIC Chairman, Minister of Labor, Minister of Health, LPRC MD, RIA MD, Chairman of Governance Commission, Chairman of National Elections Commission, TRC Chairman, etc.? So, none of these people have to be independent in mind and in thoughts? As far as the law is concerned, GAC, NEC and CSA are the three independent commissions in Article 89 of the Liberian Constitution. Where is the law or international standards that say a Maritime bureau should be independent? Chapter 53 of the Executive Law of 1972, 1977 LIMA Declarations, 2007 Mexican Declaration and the INTOSAI Standards on Auditing requires the Auditor General to be independent. Where is the reliance, whether local or international standards that calls for an independent of a Bureau or Commission like the Bureau of Maritime Affairs? Let EU, World Bank, US, IMF etc recruit internationally and pay the Maritime Commissioner. GAC says, the government of Liberia is under obligation to release AG Morlu's salary and that of Kessely including all travel, housing, and car etc benefits. And then, the Liberian people and our international partners will compare the EU compensation and with what the Liberian taxpayers are paying the Maritime Commissioner. Relevant Links West Africa Liberia GAC release further says it would prove that Kessely makes more with Liberian taxpayers' monies than what the EU is paying AG Morlu. New Democrat reported that AG Morlu makes US$15,000 per month or Euros 11,000 per month. This figure is correct. AG Morlu wishes he had the kind of money and benefits of a Maritime boss, who was handpicked and does not have to justify every day of his job existence. Maritime boss does not have to justify his monthly performance. The release says, it is possible that the BMA boss's travel budget and gas coupons are more than what AG Morlu can make in a year. EU pays AG Morlu less than the Liberian taxpayers are paying a Maritime boss, whose experience, education and credential cannot be compared with AG Morlu. LISCR is also doing the bunch of the work for the Maritime. GAC has since expressed concerned that there should be full transparency in Government. Government of Liberia should disclose total compensation for all heads of ministries, agencies, commissions and public corporations. The patronage system must come to an end in Liberia to ensure effective fiscal propriety and system and control. Be the first to Write a Comment! 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