Timeline
On 16 September 2011, the Security Council adopted resolution 2008 renewing the mandate for 12 months of the UN mission in Liberia. After the vote, Mr. Gerard Araud, Permanent Representative of France, stated that Liberia was at peace for 8 years and that a review of the mandate of this mission should be considered in the context of many operations on the African continent.
On 17 November 2011, the Security Council met in closed consultations to be briefed by Special Representative of the Secretay-General and Head of the UN mission in Liberia, Ms Ellen Margrethe Løj, on the results of the second round of the presidential elections that lead to the victory of the incumbent president Ms Johnson-Sirleaf with 90.7 % of the vote despite a low turnout after the withdrawal of the candidate of the opposition Mr. Winston Tubman.
On 9 December 2011, in private consultations, the ambassador of Lebanon, as chairman of the Sanctions Committee, presented to the Security Council the last report of the expert panel.
The Representative of France welcomed the quality of the investigations conducted by the panel, including on the operating mode of Liberian mercenaries and Ivorian militiamen in the border region. A cooperation between UNOCI and UNMIL would contribute to the neutralization of these armed groups.
On 14 December 2011, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2025 renewing for one year the mandate of UNMIL. The resolution calls for a mid-term review of the mission.
On 29 June 2012, the Security Council held private consultations to discuss the action modalities of UNMIL in the presence of Edmond Mullet, Assistant Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations.
The Representative of France called the Liberian authorities to increase their involvement in national reconciliation. He supported the Secretariat’s recommendations for a gradual reduction of the military component of the UN mission while restructuring security forces and the national police.
On 11 September 2012, the Security Council held private consultations on the evolution of the UN engagement in Liberia. Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Karin Landgren, welcomed the increasing political and institutional stability of the country, confirmed by the 2011 elections. Nonetheless, she reported capacity gaps in the security sector. Professionalism, quality and the size of police forces had to be increased.
The French Representative welcomed the planned reconfiguration of the UNMIL forces, stressing the urgent need to stabilise the border region with the Côte d’Ivoire through better intermission cooperation with UNOCI.
On 17 September 2012, the Security Council unanimously adopted resolution 2066 renewing the mandate for the UN force in Liberia, UNMIL. The resolution also provides for a significant reduction in the numbers of peacekeepers.
On 6 December 2012, the Security Council met in closed consultations to hear the briefing of the Ambassador of Pakistan, as Chairman of the sanctions committee against Liberia.
The Representative of France expressed its concerns about the government’s difficulties in monitoring the natural resources sector (especially forests and precious minerals). France was supporting the draft resolution of the United States renewing the mandate of experts by the continuation of the arms embargo and the gradual removal of individuals’ sanctions, in coordination with the Government of Liberia.
On 12 December 2012, the Security Council unanimously adopted the resolution 2079, extending for one year the sanctions regime in Liberia.
On 25 March 2013, the Security Council met to hear the report of Ms. Karin Landgren, Special Representative of the Secretary-General in Liberia and Mr Staffan Tilander, Chairman of the Peacebuilding Commission in Liberia. Both welcomed the significant progress of the country with regard to stability and development.
During the private consultations that followed, the Representative of France noted the progress in peacebuilding, noting that the country was still facing major structural challenges. He stressed that the Security Council must remain engaged with the process of transition and transfer of tasks from UNMIL to the Liberian authorities.
