"Since my last briefing, planning for the security transition has moved to implementation. UNMIL has begun its next military drawdown under Security Council Resolution 2066, and now, for the first time since 2005, UNMIL’s military is not permanently deployed in every one of Liberia’s 15 counties. So far, military personnel have vacated two counties and will leave another two next month. Meanwhile, the first of three new FPUs from Nepal deployed in full today. During the rainy season hiatus, the Government and UNMIL will continue detailed planning and preparations for the next phase. The drawdown and reconfiguration have been possible through the hard work of the Joint UN/Government Transition Working Group, which primes all national security actors to assume their added responsibilities and to make effective use of former UNMIL facilities."

In October, UNMIL handed over the first of its facilities to national authorities at Robertsport, in Grand Cape Mount County, and a second facility, in Foya near the Guinean and Sierra Leonean borders in Lofa County, was handed over in January. Between October and April, UNMIL’s military will have withdrawn from seven sites, of which the Government has taken over four. This first phase of transition has been relatively successful, but from a security perspective, also relatively undemanding. Even so, the Government of Liberia has been stretched to deploy sufficient resources, equipment and personnel to make good use of the vacated sites, and to cover the recurrent costs of maintaining them. UNMIL and the Government will soon hold a retreat to cost out transition needs through mid-2015 and for the Government to plan how to make these resources available.

 

As the Mission hands over locations and security functions, the UN and partners continue to invest in the development of Liberia’s justice and security sectors. To gauge progress and inform strategic planning, several studies are underway, including a PBF-funded review of management and accountability mechanisms within the police, judiciary and prosecution, and a baseline capacity assessment of the Liberia National Police. Over the coming months, UNMIL and national partners will also be part of a security sector reform mapping exercise to identify gaps, and tomorrow, a National Criminal Justice Conference, supported by UNMIL, is opening, to review and make recommendations for the improved functioning of all components of the criminal justice system. The Peacebuilding Commission’s active engagement, including last month’s joint visit by the Liberia and Sierra Leone country configurations, has generated sustained attention and discussion on these critical justice and security issues. The PBC is a valued partner in bringing Liberia’s peacebuilding issues to the fore and Ambassador Tillander’s continued efforts in mobilizing the required resources has been vital."