UN recommends gradual draw-down of Liberia mission

New York, 9 May – (ANA) – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has recommended that the United Nations peacekeeping operation in Liberia be reduced gradually by about 4,200 troops in three phases between this year and 2015, when it will have a residual presence of approximately 3,750 soldiers. “While Liberia no longer faces any military threat, the country still has significant challenges because of its limited national security capacity,” as well as other potentially destabilizing factors, Mr. Ban wrote in his latest report to the Security Council on the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Mr. Ban also recommended that the Mission’s police component maintain its current strength of 498 advisers and 845 officers in seven formed police units, and be authorized to add three formed units as needed over the next three years. UNMIL currently has a total of 9,195 uniformed personnel, which includes 1,279 police, including those serving in formed police units. The UN chief pointed out that much has been achieved in enhancing peace, promoting economic recovery and social advancement and strengthening regional cooperation in Liberia under the leadership of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. However, he noted, the gains remain fragile and susceptible to reversal as long as the socio-political basis of governance is not understood by all Liberians. (ANA)

FA/ANA/09 May 2012------