19 APRIL 2018 - Following the completion of the 14‑year‑long mandate of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) on 30 March, the Security Council stressed today that the Organization would remain an important partner for the West African nation as it continued to consolidate peace and stability in the future.
Liberia has made remarkable peace gains over the past 14 years. The election of President George Weah in December 2017 marked an important milestone with the peaceful transition from one democratically elected government to another. However, many of the root causes of Liberia’s conflict remain unaddressed. The concentration of power in Monrovia and the imbalance in the provision of public services persist as sources of discontent in the country. Land disputes, corruption, and concession-related tensions continue to be the main triggers of violence.
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I thank His Excellency Ambassador Olof Skoog, Chair of the Peacebuilding Commission configuration for Liberia, for convening this meeting of the Commission.
Honorable Samuel D. Tweah, Minister for Finance and Development Planning,
Your Excellency Ambassador Lewis Garseedah Brown, II.
Dear colleagues in Monrovia and New York,
Ladies and gentlemen,
