Liberia: UN envoy warns of underlying fragility despite progress

While characterizing Liberia’s security situation as relatively stable, the top United Nations envoy to the West African nation today cautioned that significant challenges remain in the areas of security and the rule of law.

The Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Ellen Margrethe Løj, called for sustained international support as Liberia continues to recover from a brutal 14-year civil war, and observed that while no longer a failed State, the country is still very fragile and located in a region that is still unstable.

“While the situation along the borders has been calm during the reporting period, underlying tensions remain strong, in particular in relation to Guinea and Cote d’Ivoire,” she told a closed-door meeting of the Security Council, as she presented the Secretary-General’s latest report on the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

She cited the recent coup in Guinea and the postponement of elections and limited disarmament process in Cote d’Ivoire to underline UNMIL’s concern about the regional situation.

“UNMIL, therefore, continues to monitor the border areas closely, since there is no doubt that disturbance in one country can have an immediate negative effect in neighbouring countries,” said Ms. Løj, who heads the Mission.

Turning to the domestic situation, she noted that small skirmishes or disputes often develop into serious mob violence with the population taking justice into their own hands. This is often the result of a lack of public trust in national security and rule of law institutions.

But this is not surprising given that Liberian security institutions, like all public institutions in the country, have to be “rebuilt from scratch,” she stated, pointing to constraints regarding operational functions, logistics, management and planning capabilities. “There will be no quick fixes. It simply takes time – and funding continues to be a major challenge.”

The Special Representative also highlighted the impact of the global economic downturn on the country, which is already suffering from high unemployment.

“The massive youth unemployment and the current job lay-offs constitute a real security concern, and the problem is likely to increase if some of the anticipated foreign investment in Liberia, as now feared, will be delayed or scaled down,” she said.

Ms. Løj warned that “without regular and stable jobs, more Liberians, especially the younger generation, could be tempted by the easy money associated with illegal economic activities or potentially by those wanting to recruit for subversive activities once again.”