- Jordan has become the first country to pledge an additional unit to UN police in Liberia, answering Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s call for extra forces to support west African state as it continues its recovery from a decade-long civil war.
Welcoming decision to send the unit, due to arrive next month, Special Representative Ellen Margrethe Løj today praised Jordanian police officers for supporting Liberian national police in various ways, particularly in dealing with “mob violence.”
Further urging Jordanian police officers to demonstrate the “patience and reserve” that was necessary to support their Liberian colleagues, Ms Løj noted that there was a lot of peace building and development work to be done to ensure that Liberia did not slide back into conflict and chaos.
“Development is crucial for sustainable peace and security; and to achieve development, Liberians must be empowered to control their circumstances,” she said at a ceremony where she awarded UN peacekeeping medals to 120 Jordanian officers already in the country.
Strengthened police component will enhance provision of strategic advice and expertise to Liberian officers in the rule of law and operational support to police and corrections sector as well as react to urgent security incidents, UN has said.
Ms Løj said September’s Security Council extension of UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) for another year represents continued commitment of UN to be unwavering and vigilant in maintaining peace and security in Liberia.
“We are working with Liberian security forces, as well as with those from neighbouring countries, to ensure that security is maintained at all times,” she added.
UNMIL was set up in 2003 to bolster a ceasefire agreement ending a war that killed almost 150,000 Liberians, mostly civilians, and sent 850,000 others fleeing to neighbouring countries. As of the end of September this year it comprised over 12,700 uniformed personnel, including 11,465 troops and 1,037 police.
afrol News - It is called "financial inclusion", and it is a key government policy in Rwanda. The goal is that, by 2020, 90 percent of the population is to have and actively use bank accounts. And in only four years, financial inclusion has doubled in Rwanda.
afrol News - The UN's humanitarian agencies now warn about a devastating famine in Sudan and especially in South Sudan, where the situation is said to be "imploding". Relief officials are appealing to donors to urgently fund life-saving activities in the two countries.
afrol News - Fear is spreading all over West Africa after the health ministry in Guinea confirmed the first Ebola outbreak in this part of Africa. According to official numbers, at least 86 are infected and 59 are dead as a result of this very contagious disease.
afrol News - It is already a crime being homosexual in Ethiopia, but parliament is now making sure the anti-gay laws will be applied in practical life. No pardoning of gays will be allowed in future, but activist fear this only is a signal of further repression being prepared.
afrol News / Africa Renewal - Ethiopia's ambitious plan to build a US$ 4.2 billion dam in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, 40 km from its border with Sudan, is expected to provide 6,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for its population plus some excess it can sell to neighbouring countries.
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