UNMIL’s departure, a new dawn

President George Manneh Weah has said the departure of UNMIL marks a new dawn for Liberia. The Country, he said is at a crossroad of opportunities. The Liberian leader noted that with a new government in place coupled with the successful completion of the United Nations peacekeeping mandate in Liberia – provides a fresh opening to assess past results, as the United Nations realigns its development model in Liberia.

President Weah made the statement on Friday, March 23, 2018, at the Monrovia City Hall when he addressed partners, the international community and Liberians at program marking the completion of UNMIL Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia. President Weah declared that the peacekeepers’ departure meant a new day for a new vision for Liberia’s development. The new vision for development in Liberia comprises of sustaining peace under the government’s Pro-Poor Agenda; and development of sustainable goals, which form part of President Weah’s Pro-Poor Agenda.

“Today, Liberians and the international community came together to recognize the contributions made by UNMIL to Liberia’s peace and security,” he underscored. The Liberian leader noted Liberia’s quest to entrench its democracy; evaluate lessons learned and to step forward as a new government in order to chart a path to the future of sustainable peace and development.

President Weah said all wars end in peace, no matter how long a war lasts it eventually ends through a peaceful resolution.The Liberian leader recounted the gains made by UNMIL, which have served as a vehicle to driving peacekeeping operations in the country. President Weah said the end of UNMIL peacekeeping mission in Liberia is a monumental occasion that all Liberians will reflect on to remember the gains and successes made prior to the last 15 years, when Liberia was considered a failed state.

President Weah furthered that UNMIL’s success in Liberia also laid out the roadmap for the conduct of the Liberia’s elections and the peaceful transition from one democratically elected government to another.

He commended UNMIL for its stay in Liberia and wished them well. He also expressed heartfelt appreciations to their individual families and countries on behalf of the peace-loving people of Liberia.”

President Weah extended deepest condolences to all those who paid the ultimate price in their effort to bring peace and work for the good of Liberia. He assured that the good work of the UN will not be forgotten and added: “We will not fight again, we promise you.”

Speaking during the ceremony, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations Madame Amina J. Mohammed commended Liberians for the peace, but added that the only way Liberians can maintain and sustain said peace is by addressing the root causes of some of those ills, which were responsible for the outbreak of the 14 years civil war. She said although the United Nations ends its peacekeeping operations in the country, it won’t abandon the country, because the United Nations will still have its presence in the country to lead Liberians by the hand in maintaining and sustaining the hard earned peace.

For his part, ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, Tunde Ajisomo prevailed on members of the international community to ensure that this time around, their support to Liberia’s post-war recovery resonates to the depth of the population as a means of maintaining and sustaining the peace.

The occasion was attended by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Bhofal Chambers, the Chief Justice of Liberia and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court Bench, Members of the Cabinet, international partners, the Diplomatic and Consular Corps, among others.