Liberia / Joint security collaboration essential for regional stability, UN West African Military officials assert at Intermission Force Commanders’ Conference
MONROVIA, Liberia, June 29, 2010/African Press Organization (APO)/ — Senior UN military officials in West Africa have resolved to strengthen collaboration on security concerns and enhance joint border patrols and close interaction between peacekeeping forces and other security agencies in the sub-region. These decisions were reached at the close of the 20th Intermission Force Commanders’ Conference held at the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Headquarters over the weekend.
The UN regional military chiefs discussed common security issues and challenges, and emphasized the need to closely coordinate their joint efforts, given the up-coming elections in much of the West African region. These include the current Guinean elections, the Cote d’Ivoire elections likely to take place at the end of this year, the 2011 Liberian electoral process, and the 2012 Sierra Leone elections. Matters centering on drug trafficking in West Africa and national security challenges relating to refugees and ex-combatants across the region, were also highlighted as crucial issues requiring the attention of UN security officials.
Addressing the opening of the Conference, the Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Ms. Ellen Margrethe Løj, stressed the importance of confronting common challenges in order to achieve the respective mission mandates. She was emphatic on the need for the formulation of a Joint Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) by UNMIL Military and UN Police (UNPOL), to protect Liberian civilians. Ms. Løj called on the UN Military officials to examine the need for training and equipping companies of each UNMIL battalion with riot control gear to assist the Liberia National Police and UNPOL. On the recent joint drug bust by the United States and Liberian governments, she underscored the necessity for close interaction and joint border patrolling to fight drug trafficking and trans-border crimes in order to enhance the stability of the West African sub-region.
The Military Adviser to the UN Secretary-General, Lt.-Gen. Chikadibia Isaac Obiakor, a former UNMIL Force Commander, said the situation has changed and peacekeeping today is not the same as yesterday. “We, as leaders, need to participate in debate both individually and collectively, to find the best solution to the problems.” He urged all commanders in the field “to be more professional in outlook and disposition.” Gen. Obiakor underlined the importance of robust peacekeeping, to ensure the protection of civilians, including an increased level of understanding of peacekeeping issues leading to sustainable peace in the present context.
The representative of the United Nations Office for West Africa (UNOWA), Lt.-Col. Qazi Masroor Ullah told his military counterparts that all West African countries share common challenges due to their identical geography, cultural and ethno-religious similarity and inter-connectivity. “Unrest in one country always has the potential to spill-over to the neighbouring countries,” he stated. “Because of gaps in its security, West Africa is used as major transit route for drug trafficking from South America to Europe and to America,” Lt.-Col. Ullah said. The Military Adviser for the United Nations Integrated Peace-Building Office in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS), Vice Admiral Felipe Lando, expressed concern over Guinea Bissau’s fragile security situation, noting its efforts to implement Security Sector Reform.
Other senior military officials attending the Conference were the Force Commander of the UN Mission in Cote d’Ivoire (ONUCI), Maj.-Gen. Abdul Hafiz; UNMIL Deputy Force Commander (Acting Force Commander), Maj.-Gen. Carl Modey; Chief of Staff of UNMIL Forces, Brig.-Gen. Raphael Isa; Chief of Staff of ONUCI Forces, Col. Habib Oueslati; and Peacekeeping Affairs Officer, Department of Peacekeeping Organization (DPKO) in New York, Col. James Ataguba.
SOURCE
Mission of UN in Liberia
