UNMIL facilitates the forum to assess the state of Liberia’s county security councils
Monrovia - On 10 November, United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) supported the National Security Council (NSC) Secretariat to convene a roundtable discussion on the state of the county security councils in Liberia at the Ministry of Defense Headquarters in Monrovia.
Speaking at the opening of the conference, UNMIL Security Sector Reform Advisor, Mr. Michael Page commended the government’s efforts on the establishment of Regional Offices.
"The establishment of five National Security Council Regional offices in Bong, Bomi, Grand Bassa, Grand Gedeh and Maryland Counties is a clear demonstration that the Government of Liberia is committed to the full operationalization of the County Security Councils as envisaged in the 2011 National Security Reform and Intelligence Act,” said Mr. Page.
He informed the gathering that in the last years, United Nations has supported the National Security Council Secretariat to establish the Security Councils in each County and District of Liberia as early warning mechanisms and as a key forum for managing local security concerns. He also lauded the international community for supporting the establishment of the county security councils.
The roundtable was an opportunity to strengthen the coordination and collaboration between the National Security Council Secretariat and the County Security Councils. It identified security concerns and provided recommendations for the full operationalization of the County Security Councils as envisaged in the 2011 National Security Reform and Intelligence Act.
The event was part of a UNDP and UNMIL project that aims to enhance the early warning and information sharing of the the county security councils through the establishment of the regional offices, provision of trainings and material resources, and facilitation of regular field assessments by the National Security Council in the county and district councils.
The meeting was also addressed by the Minister of Internal Affairs, Henrique F. Tokapah, the National Security Advisor, C. Clarence Massaquoi, AU Ambassador to Liberia, Ibrahim M. Kamara, the Chair Senate Committee on Defence, National Security, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs, Stephen Zorgo, Swedish Ambassador to Liberia, Ingrid Wetterqvist and Special Representative of the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Liberia, Babatunde Olaanrewaju Ajisomo. Others speakers were the Chair, National Civil Society Council of Liberia, Frances Deigh Greaves, Assistant Minister of Justice Fredrick Gbemie and representatives of the European Union, United States Embassy and UNDP.