For millions of Africans, African-Americans and indeed, Blacks in the Diaspora, the West African nation of Liberia has made sustained economic and socio-political progress. The United Nations Deputy Secretary-General, Amina Mohammed, expatiated on this theme during her recent visit to that country. She was in Monrovia to celebrate the successful closure of the UN mission there, which she said set the stage for sustained peace in the months and years ahead.
Speaking at the event to commemorate the completion of the work of the UN peacekeeping mission, known as UNMIL, the top UN official pointed out that, “Liberia has made enormous progress in the past 15 years,” and acknowledged global support for Liberians in restoring their country and building sustainable peace.
Ms. Mohammed continued, “In 2003, when UNMIL was created, Liberia was torn apart by conflict, with a traumatized population and no hope for its young people, especially the women and girls”.
She noted that 14 years of civil war left more than a quarter of a million Liberians dead, nearly one-third of the population displaced, and an estimated 80 per cent of women and girls injured by sexual violence. Turning to Liberian women, Ms. Mohammed commend their “leadership, courage and integrity” in pursuing peace.
The UN Deputy Secretary-General thanked the Special Representatives of the African Union, the ECOWAS, civilian and military personnel and countries that contributed troops and paid special tribute to the 200 peacekeepers who lost their lives in pursuit of peace in Liberia.”
Ms. Mohammed also thanked the international community, especially influential Blacks in the Diaspora, who took active interest by contributing funds towards the restoration of peace and normalcy in Liberia. She, however, acknowledged that challenges still lie ahead.
President George Weah seized the chance to commend the international community for its goodwill towards his inauguration as Liberia’s helmsman. He craved for the continuation of such goodwill to enable his administration surmount the problems that abound in the polity.
He assured that Liberia will support the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the AU’s Agenda 2063 as roadmaps to achieve lasting peace in the country.