ECOWAS/UN/NTGL Coordination Mechanism

Briefing notes for the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the first meeting of the ECOWAS/UN/NTGL Coordination Mechanism

20 September 2004


Welcoming remarks on coordination with ECOWAS and the NTGL

Excellencies,
President Kufuor of Ghana, Chairman of ECOWAS
Mr Gyude Bryant, Chairman of the National Transitional Government of Liberia
General Abdulsalami Abubakar, ECOWAS Mediator for the peace process in Liberia
Mr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, Executive Secretary of ECOWAS
Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. I would like to thank our partners from ECOWAS and the NTGL for agreeing to establish this tripartite coordination mechanism. As Mr. Guehenno pointed out in his opening remarks, the coordination mechanism is an important forum that should enable us to develop and pursue a common strategy in supporting the Liberian peace process.

2. I also wish to express my satisfaction at the growing collaboration between UNMIL and ECOWAS as we continue to make progress in supporting the peace process. UNMIL’s mandate is premised on working in close collaboration with ECOWAS, and indeed the role of ECOWAS has proven to be an important cornerstone of our operation. Together with other members of the International Contact Group on Liberia (ICGL), we meet weekly with Chairman Bryant to take stock of key issues that impact on the peace process. We also participate together in the Implementation Monitoring Committee (IMC) and in the NCDDRR meetings convened by Chairman Bryant.

Agenda Item II b: DDRR - challenges and steps ahead

3. The DDRR programmes continues to progress at a steady pace. You will recall that we launched the programme on 7 December 2003. At that time, we encountered a number of challenges. The three armed factions failed to provide the lists of their combatants. They also did not comply with the procedures which required them to bring 250 combatants per day to the disarmament site. Consequently, the sites were overwhelmed and it was not possible to conduct the process in an orderly manner. Nonetheless, during the 10 days of operation, we were able to disarm over 13,000 combatants. Despite the problems encountered, that was unquestionably an achievement which laid the foundation for a successful DD process.

4. During the second phase of the disarmament exercise, which started on 15 April, we opened the DD site at Gbarnga and subsequently Buchanan and then Tubmanburg. That phase, which was completed in July, saw the disarmament of over 53,200 combatants.

5. The third phase was launched with the opening of two new sites in Zwedru (for MODEL) on 9 July and Ganta (for ex-GOL) on 17 August and Voinjama (for LURD) on 8 September. In the coming weeks we will open the only remaining site, which will be in Harper, Maryland County.

6. As of 13 September, we have disarmed a total of 75,725 combatants, including 13,747 women, 5,332 boys and 1,531 girls. To date, we have also collected 22,071 weapons, 23,305 heavy ammunitions, including mortars, RPGs and anti-aircraft ammunitions, as well as 5,427,095 small arms ammunition during the ongoing disarmament exercise. Our latest analysis of the weapons and ammunition collected during the disarmament process so far indicates that, based on the agreed criteria, the ratio of combatants to weapons now stands at 1.043 persons per weapon and ammunition. The overall number of identified foreign combatants that have been disarmed currently stands at 579. The payment of the second tranche of the transitional safety-net allowance (TSA) for demobilised combatants commenced on 6 September. The payments have so far proceeded in an orderly manner. As of 13 September, 8, 637 ex-combatants had received their allowance.

7. All the stakeholders have agreed the DD operations will be completed on 31 October, in order to enable us to focus on the RR aspects. On 1 November, the political leaders of the former armed groups will sign a declaration affirming the completion of the process.

8. On 21 August, UNMIL signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the ICRC to facilitate the repatriation of foreign children associated with the fighting forces who are currently accommodated in UNICEF-sponsored Interim Care Centres in Liberia. To this effect, ICRC has traced the families of about 83 children in the neighbouring countries (Sierra Leone, Côte d’ Ivoire and Guinea) and would be reuniting them early in September. UNMIL is providing the financial entitlement of the child ex-combatants from the disarmament and demobilisation process for the ICRC to disburse it in accordance with established procedure. The first group of children was repatriated to Sierra Leone on 1 September.

9. UNMIL and its partners have developed a comprehensive blueprint for the reintegration of ex-combatants which my colleague from the UNDP will further elaborate upon. We have also put in place a Joint Implementation Unit (JIU) that brings together all the key players on both the DD and the reintegration and rehabilitation (RR) aspects. The JIU maintains the data on the disarmed combatants, including their indicated areas of interest in the reintegration programme.

10. A major challenge, however, is the alarming lack of adequate funding for rehabilitation and reintegration of the disarmed combatants. It should be recalled that one of the many factors that left Liberia vulnerable and insecure following its first civil war in the 1990s was the failure by the international community to ensure proper funding for that very purpose. So far, we have created reintegration opportunities for almost 8,000 ex-combatants in agriculture and vocational training activities, while 2,700 ex-combatants have registered into formal school education in the current academic year. This number pales in significance when compared to the over 75,000 combatants that have been disarmed and demobilised so far.

11. Taking into account the contributions received so far, as well as the caseload of combatants that will be absorbed in projects offered by other partners, such as the EC, USAID and UNICEF, the UNDP-managed Trust fund for the reintegration of combatants is currently facing a shortfall of about $42 million. This estimate is based on the following assumptions: a) that the total caseload to participate in the RR programme is now estimated at 80,000; b) women and children expected to participate in other programmes are estimated at 8,500, and c) the caseload to be supported by UNICEF, USAID and the EC is estimated at 23,000. Therefore, the total number of ex-combatants to be supported from the UNDP-managed Trust Fund is close to 49,000. Our operational strategy aims to strike a balance between the needs of the ex-combatants and those of the communities to which they are returning. But, funding for the repatriation of refugees and the resettlement of IDPs is also inadequate. My colleague from UNDP will now discuss in further detail the challenges and steps ahead for reintegration and rehabilitation.

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Agenda item II c: Electoral – challenges and steps ahead

11. In May, my Deputy responsible for Rule of Law issues and Operation, Mr. Seraydarian, held a meeting in Abuja with the ECOWAS Mediator, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, and Executive Secretary, Dr. Ibn Chambas, to discuss the preparation for the 2005 elections in Liberia. The Chairperson of the National Elections Commission was also present during the meeting. Their discussions helped clarify the following important issues:

 The National Elections Commission (NEC) will have the responsibility to organize and conduct the elections.

 UNMIL will lead in coordinating the technical and material support provided by all partners, and ECOWAS, the AU and the EU will observe and monitor the elections.

 Parties who may disagree with the rulings of the NEC on electoral disputes or petitions will have recourse to the judicial system.

12. General Abubakar also clarified that the Comprehensive Peace Agreement bars only the Cabinet Ministers, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the Chief Justice and all Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, the NTGL Chairman and Vice Chairman from contesting the 2005 elections. However, the newly elected President will have the right to appoint any individual, including those who served in the NTGL cabinet, as Ministers in the new government.

13. General Abubakar explained these decisions to the ICGL and the signatories of the Peace Agreement during his visit to Monrovia early in June. The National Elections Commission held a consultative meeting from 7 to 8 June with the participation of all signatories of the Peace Agreement, except MODEL, to clarify the grey areas in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement concerning: (a) whether the 2005 elections will be presidential and legislative elections only or will also include local elections; (b) what electoral system will be applied; (c) what electoral reforms are envisaged; and (d) the nature of constituency re-demarcation envisaged in the Peace Agreement. General Abubakar addressed the meeting and explained the outcome of the Abuja meeting.

14. UNMIL’s Electoral Division is now actively providing extensive technical advice and other assistance to the Elections Commission. The reform of the electoral system called for in the CPA is one of the immediate challenges facing the electoral process. The Electoral Division has been working closely with the Elections Commission to facilitate the finalisation of the electoral reform legislation through a series of consultations held with political parties, civil society organizations and other stakeholders. On 27 August, the National Elections Commission approved the draft legislation on electoral reform, which includes proposals for the suspension of certain constitutional provisions and amendments to the Elections Law, as well as a proposal to use the single non-transferable vote electoral system in the House of Representatives elections. Under the proposed legislation, parliamentary seats will be allocated to counties on the basis of the number of registered voters. The draft legislation also covers budgetary appropriations for the NEC, a revised membership requirement for new political parties, as well as a provision for the formation of alliances and coalitions. The Draft Electoral Reform Legislation was submitted to the NTLA on 31 August. UNMIL has been impressing upon the NTLA to expedite the adoption of the legislation, since the timely commencement of voter education depends on it.

15. Consensus among the partners on the draft legal framework has paved the way for the preliminary operational planning, the preparation of the elections budget and the recurrent budget of the NEC. UNMIL is assisting the NEC in coordinating the donor assistance that will be required for the process. At the same time, it is understood that the NEC will need to re-organize its structure in order to implement the operational plan that is being developed. Other challenges will include preparations at the county level and the integration of the Electoral Division advisers at both the headquarters and county levels. The massive population displacement will pose an immense challenge for the electoral process, particularly with regard to estimating the number of registered voters and their distribution. The continued progress of the DDRR programme, as well as the resettlement of IDPs and repatriation of refugees will greatly facilitate the smooth conduct of the voter education activities, voter registration, political campaign, as well as the polling and counting processes.

16. UNMIL, through its Electoral Division, and in cooperation with other international partners, will continue to work towards the successful conduct of credible elections in October 2005, and will apply the following general principles:

a. Capacity-building: UNMIL will employ a counterpart system that will facilitate a direct transfer of skills to the Liberian electoral officers so that the National Elections Commission operates in conformity with UN standards;

b. Consultation: The National Elections Commission will be encouraged to take into consideration the views of both its domestic and international partners, so the process is, as stated the CPA, “acceptable to all”.

c. Sustainability: To the extent possible, all policy and planning should aim to ensure that the National Elections Commission, as the entity with responsibility for the conduct of the elections, will be able to conduct future elections with progressively less international assistance. The finalization of the National Elections Commission’s budget exercises will enable international partners including UNMIL, the EC and USAID to determine a clear division of responsibilities to avoid duplication of effort. In this way, the Elections Commission and the overall electoral process will maximize the benefits received from international and technical material assistance.

17. My colleague from the Electoral Assistance Division in the Department of Political Affairs will now discuss in further detail the challenges and steps ahead and strategic approach to the 2005 elections.
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