On a visit to Zwedru and Fishtown in mid-April, Special Representative of the Secretary-General Karin Landgren lauded efforts by the Government and civil society to promote security and the rule of law in Liberia.

Although Liberia’s hard-earned peace is far from consolidated, after reviewing the challenges with County officials and representatives of civil society groups in Grand Gedeh and River Gee Counties, Landgren was upbeat about prospects. She reckoned the authorities should be able to keep the momentum even as UNMIL scales down operations in a well thought-out exit strategy.

“I absolutely think they’re well on their way to carrying out security obligations on their own.  Yes, they face many challenges trying to function properly and, surely, as long as we are here we’ll continue to lend support,” Landgren told UNMIL Today in Fishtown. “But the spirit is there, the willingness is there, and this is very encouraging.”

The UN envoy seized the occasion of her visit to emphasize the stakes for Grand Gedeh and River Gee in efforts to secure the border with neighbouring Côte d’Ivoire and foster regional stability. How the administration in these border Counties responds to issues of national security and rule of law impacts on peace and stability in the region, she pointed out.

At a meeting with the administration in Grand Gedeh County, Superintendent Peter Solo observed that the border areas have gone for more than a year now without any dissident or cross-border incidents. Solo cited the Joint Council of Chiefs and Elders Meeting (JCCEM) held in Zwedru in August last year as part of efforts to consolidate these gains. Similarly, his River Gee counterpart, Hon. Daniel Johnson said the County had since set up a Cross-Border Monitoring Committee. Unfortunately, the body remains crippled by logistic and other drawbacks.

In Zwedru, as in Fishtown, Landgren maintained that the pursuit of good governance, rule of law and security remains a collective and inclusive enterprise. She praised efforts by civil society organizations in Liberia to mobilize and acquaint the public with the conduct of the affairs of State.

“They’re doing a great job. They’re encouraging open debate,” the SRSG observed. “They’re encouraging people to come and discuss issues of the day, including involvement in some of the big reform questions such as constitutional reform, and I really would like to commend these organizations for helping people find their voices.”

Also, in a live interview on Radio Gee, a community broadcaster in Fishtown, the SRSG stressed the need for community radios to safeguard their independence, neutrality and sense of public service.

Other high points of the two-day trip included a visit to the small town of Gbarbo in Grand Gedeh, where Landgren joined an audience of about 70 locals at a Community Policing Forum jointly conducted by the Liberia National Police and UNPOL. The SRSG also visited the Zwedru National Palace of Corrections and the Central Prison in Fishtown, where she dedicated a newly constructed wing for female inmates.