• “Past Governments Failed To Manage Billions Of Dollars” Given By US –Says Weah, Sources: News Public Trust and The New Dawn
• UNMIL Backbone Leaving, Source: New DEMOCRAT
• Denied: Ellen Must Face Boakai, Paye & Sherman in Fight for UP Return, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, New DEMOCRAT, The INQUIRER, and The New Dawn
• Grand Cape Mount Conflict –Internal Affairs, Traditional Council Mediate Conflict among Citizens, Source: FrontPage Africa
• Zogoes Registering In Nimba for Rehabilitation, Source: The INQUIRER

“Past Governments Failed To Manage Billions Of Dollars” Given By US –Says Weah, Sources: News Public Trust and The New Dawn

President George Weah has said Liberians should not blame the United States government for the country’s problem because the US has given Liberia billions of dollars in assistance, but past governments have squandered the money. President Weah was speaking during a prayer service at the Dominion Christian Fellowship Church in Monrovia’s Sinkor suburb when he and his delegation return from a three-nation visit to Senegal, Morocco, and France on Friday. He said the US has given huge development assistance to Liberia over the years, but past governments have failed to use it to benefit the people.

“There is no way you can suggest that the U.S. is our problem. America is our ally and France is America’s ally so the friends of America are our friends. How can we blame America when we have failed to manage billions of dollars given to this country by America?” President Weah further wondered: “Why do we want to blame people when we are in charge. Let us change our attitude. Everything that comes is for the Liberian people.”

The new Liberian leader dismissed speculations that his government was downplaying relations with the US by making France his first official visit outside Africa. “Our friend and big brother the United States will soon call us. They are our partners we will soon be going to them and we want to maintain our partnership with America in the interest of our government,” Weah said in a statement broadcast live nationwide. Read more

UNMIL Backbone Leaving, Source: New DEMOCRAT

With the United Nations set to close its “successful” peacekeeping mission in Liberia end of the next month, the remaining unit of the Pakistani contingent – a well-equipped hospital, is now winding up its operations, this paper reports… Over the years, Pakistan, as UNMIL’s backbone, provided infantry battalions, a signal company, engineering companies, military observers, police officers as well as the Level-II hospital. From 2005 to 2013, Pakistan contributed more than 2,000 peacekeepers to UNMIL per annum, with a high of 3,400 in 2007 and 2008. The bulk of the Pakistani troops returned home in 2015, with the medical unit remaining behind.

“We really have to acknowledge the significant contribution made by Pakistan to the peace process in Liberia,” Waldemar Vrey UNMIL Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, said in an interview, during which he commended the professionalism and sense of dedication of the Pakistani personnel operating in difficult conditions.

Denied: Ellen Must Face Boakai, Paye & Sherman in Fight for UP Return, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, New DEMOCRAT, The INQUIRER, and The New Dawn

According to the New Democrat, the National Elections Commission (NEC) chief dispute hearing officer Cllr. Munah Ville has dismissed and denied lawsuit filed by expelled officials of the now opposition Unity Party (UP), including its Assistant Secretary Patrick Worzie, Senator Conmany Wesseh and his wife Medina, and former President  Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. But President Sirleaf’s former presidential press secretary Jerolimek Piah clarified that the former Liberian leader did not take the UP to the NEC for redress over her expulsion by the current leadership of the party. Cllr. Ville said he did not exhaust the remedy provided by the Constitution of the Party of resolved grievances.

The NEC hearing officer handing down his ruling on Friday said while Mrs. Sirleaf and others were complaining that some members of the party violated a provision of the party’s constitution when they expelled them, they themselves also violated a provision of the same constitution regarding exhaustion of remedy. He said based on such violation of the party’s constitution regarding exhaustion of remedy by the expelled partisans, he as a hearing officer lacks jurisdiction over the matter.

Grand Cape Mount Conflict –Internal Affairs, Traditional Council Mediate Conflict among Citizens, Source: FrontPage Africa

The minister of internal affairs, along with the head of the national Traditional Chiefs Council of Liberia (NTCCL) and officials of government from Grand Cape Mount County has blamed citizens of Kinjor, Larjor in Grand Cape Mount for the setback the citizens are now faced with, the Bea Mountain Mining Corporation, this paper reports.

The Ministry’s intervention came after residents of communities surrounding the concession areas, staged a night demonstration recently under the disguise of the Poro Society. Unlike all other days, the protesters advanced to the main entrances of the company. After officials of the Internal Affairs Ministry, including the county, had listened to the citizens’ spokesperson Mohammed Daramie and the company’s spokesperson Sando Wayne, the residents were made to understand that there does not exist any conflict between them and the company. However, these interveners blamed the Kinjor inhabitants for the lack of progress in the area and not the company. The mediators warned citizens of the areas that until they – youth and elders get to stop the internal fight, development will continue to elude them.

Zogoes Registering In Nimba for Rehabilitation, Source: The INQUIRER

The National Commission for Rehabilitation and Reintegration of Drugs and War Affected People has begun the registration of ‘street people’ otherwise known as Zogoes from several communities in Ganta, Nimba County. According to a report from the county, the Zogoes are being recruited and registered for the purpose of rehabilitation and reintegration into society to become useful citizens. The commission’s coordinator in Nimba, Nathan Kpakar told The INQUIRER recently that 575 Zogoes have been registered in several communities of Ganta for the process of rehabilitation and reintegration and that under the commission’s program will be allowed to enroll into various vocational training exercises.