Tuesday, February 23, 2010

Liberia: UN chief urges Liberia to build up national security architecture

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Monday urged the Liberian government to adopt measures to institutionalize national security architecture to cope with challenges as it moves toward reconciliation.

In a report to the Security Council on the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), Ban said that Liberia faces significant challenges in the development of security and legal institutions. He stressed the need to ensure that the Liberian National Police are independently operational and that Liberia redoubles its efforts in the area of rule of law. "I urge the government to also take steps to adopt legislation to institutionalize the national security architecture," Ban said.


The secretary-general said that a successful security sector reform in Liberia will require sustained donor support for the Liberian National Police and other security agencies.

Among the areas that need sustained donor support is the establishment of an efficient communications system, provision of technical assistance in key operational areas, including women and child protection, and the construction of a new Monrovia Central Prison to replace the existing structure which is "overcrowded and dilapidated," he said. Ban called on the government to assume greater responsibilities for the development of the Armed Forces of Liberia, calling it a " major step towards the progressive assumption of responsibilities for security by national authorities."

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Source: Xinhua (20/02/2010)

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