UN PEACE KEEPING MISSION

Peacekeeping and Peacemaking Interventions: UNMIL (Liberia) - A UN Success Story?

Peacekeeping and Peacemaking Interventions: UNMIL (Liberia) - A UN Success Story?

Introduction

The risks and benefits of the United Nations integration for humanitarian support have been extremely debated for a number of years (Bekoe, 2006). Lots of humanitarian staff remains sceptical that United Nations integration can help humanitarian act. Others emphasize on the need for better coherence and underline the affirmative and optimistic experiences of United Nations integration. The UN Mission in Liberia, also known as “UNMIL” is well though-out to be a success story.

Discussion

Liberia is situated in West Africa surrounded by Côte d'Ivoire, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. It covers a region of 111,370 square km and has a population of approximately 3.8 million. Established by freed slaves from the U.S. in 1820, it turned out to be a republic in the year 1847, with 3 government branches founded loosely on the United States system (U.S. Department of State, Bureau of African Affairs, 2003); though, in actual fact the president has at all times wielded substantial power with only some checks or balances. Even though Americo-Liberians returning slaves often collided with the native population and the country was exposed to other colonial misuse, it was comparatively peaceful and serene till 1980. Just then, Samuel Doe, who stood up to represent native Liberians, took control through a rebellion. A revolutionary movement, NPFL or the National Patriotic Front of Liberia guided by Charles Taylor, started on a civil war in opposition to the Doe administration in the year 1989 that ended in 1997, when he overpoweringly prevailed in the national elections (Central Intelligence Agency, 2003). Though, the civil conflict has by no means authentically been resolved.

Background

Out of all nations on earth, Liberia has the most horrible record on nutritional and health indicators. It is miserable to know that just ten percent of the inhabitants have access to sufficient and satisfactory healthcare facilities (Bekoe, 2006). It is due to the obliteration of majority of the healthcare amenities and services outside the Liberia's capital city Monrovia. Almost certainly, poverty in this country is yet more widespread than it seems to be for the reason that data on major economic and social indicators are not present. All through the period of 90s, Liberia was distressed by a fourteen year civil war and an extended history of the mismanagement of government and the abuses of human rights. In 1991, at the request of each side of the Liberian clash, the Carter Centre of Emory University, recognized internationally for its achievement in discussing peace and lessening human suffering, came up with an office in the capital city Monrovia (Bekoe, 2006).

By the year 2000, human killings reports had increased so extensively that ex- president Jimmy Carter chose to shut the office. In the year 2003, with help and support from the peacekeeping forces of United Nations, 100,000 equipped fighters were disarmed. An alliance government, made up of members from each side of the argument, was chosen and ...