UN: Despite relative stability, Liberia still faces security obstacles

Accra, March 23, GNA - The United Nations top envoy to Liberia on
Friday told the Security Council that although the impoverished West
African country, which is rebuilding after a brutal 14-year civil war,
has made progress in consolidating stability, numerous threats to
peace remain.
Alan Doss, Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon's Special Representative
for Liberia, said in a closed meeting that "although the political
situation has remained quite stable, there are still serious security
challenges that require continuing attention and action."
Mr. Doss also presented the 15-member Council with the
Secretary-General's latest report on the situation in Liberia, which
recommends extending for one year the mandate of the UN peacekeeping
mission in the country, known as UNMIL, set to expire at the end of
this month.
UNMIL was established in 2003 to support Liberia's ceasefire and
peace process, and currently has over 15,200 uniformed personnel,
along with around 500 international civilian personnel, almost 1,000
local staff and 220 UN Volunteers.In the report, Mr. Ban cited several
challenges to stability, including high unemployment and
"unpredictable situations" in Liberia's neighbours such as Côte
d'Ivoire and Guinea.
He also said that the country's Truth and Reconciliation
Commission is being hindered in its progress by management, personnel
and budgetary difficulties, and "these problems need to be resolved on
an urgent basis so that the Commission can continue its valuable work
of ensuring lasting peace in Liberia."
23 March 07