Outbreak of peace in Liberia exposes humanitarian crisis

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September 2003

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Outbreak of peace in Liberia
exposes humanitarian crisis
U.S. Marines have already been withdrawn, and most fighting in Liberia seems to have taken at least a temporary respite, though outbreaks of violence and lawlessness continue to plague the countryside surrounding capital city Monrovia, but international aid agencies are finding evidence of acute food shortages and widespread disease. There are an estimated one million Liberians without clean water, food, or shelter. Many fled their homes during the civil war, and have no means to support themselves.

The Disasters Emergency Committee launched the Liberia Crisis Appeal on behalf of 11 of the United Kingdom's leading aid agencies in August. Donations will help fund the rapid expansion of aid work in Liberia, including food distribution, family survival kits, clean water, and medical care.

The long-delayed departure of Charles Taylor and the signing of a peace agreement in Liberia are allowing aid agencies renewed access to the people who have suffered throughout 14 years of civil war. Six aid flights have already been sent to the country over the past two weeks, and more flights are being planned.

DEC Chief Executive Brendan Gormley said, "We already knew about the appalling conditions in Liberia's capital Monrovia, but now agencies are discovering the full horror of the plight of people in the countryside. We are relying on the generosity of the public to help us meet the needs of an estimated one million people who are chronically malnourished, without clean water and lacking shelter to protect their families."

Under intense international pressure, the three parties in Liberia's civil war signed a peace agreement in August intended to establish a transitional government and pave the way for elections in 2006. The businesslike end to 2-1/2 months of peace talks in Ghana's capital, Accra, reflects a broad determination to bring to a close 14 years of factional fighting.

The peace deal requires some give and take from all sides. Pressed by the United States and West African leaders to come to an agreement, all of the parties - the government and two rebel groups - backed down from long-held demands, ultimately getting less than they wanted. But the rebels had already won their key demand last week, when former President Charles Taylor stepped down and left for exile in Nigeria on Aug. 11.

According to the terms of the agreement, the Liberian government agrees to give Liberia's two rebel groups equal status in the transitional government. The rebel groups gave up demands for the presidency and vice presidency, instead accepting parity in the parliament and cabinet. No combatant group will hold either position as the country's temporary chairman or vice chairman, both of whom will be drawn from civil society and nonarmed opposition.

Liberia's political parties and civil groups worked Tuesday to choose candidates. The names will be submitted to the rebel movements and the government for their final selection, with the two leaders due to be picked by the end of the day Wednesday.

The new interim government will take control on October 14 and govern until January 2006, when free elections will be held.

"I believe this definitely buries the war. Charles Taylor has departed; the major reason why these groups have been fighting has been removed," Mohamed Ibn Chambas, secretary-general of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), told the Agence France-Presse news agency.

But this will be the fourth transitional government in Liberia in the past decade and a half, and there are still many dangers ahead. The first transitional government, implemented in August 1990, was an abject failure, kept alive mainly by the presence of West African peacekeepers.

The last, inaugurated six years later, served for one tumultuous year before Mr. Taylor's election in 1997. Many observers say Taylor was able to win the election because the last transitional gov- ernment failed to prepare Liberians for the poll. Michael Francis, archbishop of Monrovia, says many steps, including disarmament, demobilization, repatriation of refugees, and the creation of a new national army, did not occur.

Donations to the Liberia Crisis Appeal

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