Liberianske lejesoldater skal være fortid

Forfatter billede

Mere end et år efter afslutningen på konflikten i Elfenbenskysten, lover den Liberianske regering en gang for alle, at stoppe de lejesoldater fra Liberia, som er medvirkende til menneskerettighedskrænkelser.

MONROVIA, 27. juni 2012 (IRIN): By sending troops from the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) to Grand Gedeh County in eastern Liberia, helping to extradite alleged Ivorian militia fighters, temporarily closing the border, and pledging tighter surveillance of Ivoirian refugees as well as greater cross-border cooperation, the government of Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has sought to show it is serious about tackling a now acknowledged mercenary problem in Liberia’s territory.

Critics have accused the Liberian authorities of tailoring their security policy to the needs of Côte d’Ivoire, at the expense of needlessly opening old wounds from Liberia’s civil wars (1989-1996 and 1999-2003).

Thomas Nimely, former head of the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), one of the main rebel movements in the war against former President Charles Taylor, and long-based in Grand Gedeh, told Voice of America that:

“If Ivory Coast wants peace, they should look for their own peace”, adding that Liberians in the border regions should not suffer as a result.

Changing tack on mercenaries…

Læs videre på: http://www.irinnews.org/Report/95753/Analysis-Tracking-down-Liberia-s-mercenarie