Security Council panel on Liberia sanctions revises list on travel restrictions

The Security Council committee set up to monitor international sanctions against Liberia has revised its list of individuals banned from travelling abroad.

In response to changing circumstances in Liberia, the panel announced on Wednesday that the names of three persons – Omrie Golley, Romeo Horton and Robert Neal – were being dropped from the list, bringing down the total number of those affected by the sanctions to about 120.

These latest sanctions against Liberia were imposed by Security Council resolution 1343 in March 2001 in response to concerns about the reported transit of illicit diamonds – which were being traded to fuel the conflict in Sierra Leone – through Liberia. The Council determined that Liberia’s support for the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) in Sierra Leone constituted a threat to international peace and security, and called on Monrovia to expel RUF members from its territory and withdraw its support for the rebel group.

Under the sanctions, all States must prevent the sale or supply to Liberia of arms and related materiel of all types. Countries are also banned from importing any rough diamonds from Liberia, while members of its Government and their spouses are under the travel ban, with humanitarian exemptions only.

Since its adoption, the list, which is updated regularly, has seen the removal of 10 names.