After fifteen years of deploying its peacekeeping mission to Liberia, the United Nations on Thursday ended its operation.
Liberia was plagued by two civil wars ripping the country apart and destroying its economy and infrastructure, leaving almost 250,000 people dead with several others fleeing the country.
After years of efforts to rebuild the country, the mission has now withdrawn its 15,000 troops as it appears Liberia can now meet its own security needs.
In a meeting with visiting U.N. Deputy Secretary Amina Mohammed, President of Liberia George Weah said “This mission contributed to the restoration of peace and stability in Liberia.”
“We salute the men and women in blue helmets who came from far and near, some of whom paid the ultimate price for peace”, he added.
U.N. Deputy Secretary Amina Mohammed told Reuters that “The results were over time but there were 100,000 combatants disarmed and reintegrated.”
She added that “The youth are taking ownership as … the custodians of peace, ” but was quick to add that “there’s a lot of consolidation that needs to be done.”
President Weah took over from Africa’s first woman president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf this year after winning the presidential elections last year.
Liberia was founded by freed US slaves in the 19th Century and besides decades of civil war the country was also hit by Ebola outbreak.
Source: Africafeeds.com
