MONROVIA, April 9 (LINA) -The Liberian government has announced the setting up of a “Regional Quick Reaction Force” by the United Nations to respond to security threats within Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire under the UN Inter-mission Cooperation Arrangement.

The Force, which is based in Cote d’Ivoire, can be deployed into Liberia within a relatively short period of time when the need arises following the drawdown of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

Justice Minister Cllr. Benedict Sannoh made the disclosure Wednesday at the Information Ministry regular press briefing at the ministry in Monrovia.

According to Attorney-General Sannoh, the government has already signed the relevant Status of Forces of Agreement to facilitate the deployment of such a force in Liberia when the need arises.

The Justice Minister made the disclosure amidst concerns in some quarters that the peace and security of the country will be threatened after the completion of the UNMIL drawdown in June 2016.

Following the 2010 elections, the UN Security Council by Resolution 2066 (2012), decided to reduce the military strength of UNMIL in three phases between August 2012 and July 2015, being satisfied that significant progress has been made in reducing threats to peace and security and the creation of an enabling environment for post-conflict democratic governance.

UNMIL was established in 2003 as a result of the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) signed in Accra, Ghana through the Security Council Resolution 1509 (2003) with a mandate to support the reform of the security sector and the maintenance of peace, justice and security in the country.
LINA