MONROVIA JULY 1, 2016(CISA)-UN Peace keeping mission in Liberia announced June 30 that it will be leaving the country.
Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf told Reuters that much had been done to prepare for the transition, but that more was still needed adding that “this will be beginning a new phase of self-reliance.”
“The constraints of resources have not enabled us to go as far as we would have wanted in terms of security training, logistics, and support for our security forces,” said President Sir Leaf.
U.N. peacekeeping mission was sent to Liberia in 2003 to restore order after two brutal civil wars.
Liberia has relied heavily on the mission of 15,000 U.N. troops, known as UNMIL, which had been winding down for several months before control was officially handed over to domestic forces on June 30.
The government has said that new barracks have been built across the country to increase security outside the capital.
Beginning July 1, reported Voice of America, 1,240 U.N. military and 606 police personnel will however remain on the ground, but will be there only in case of emergency.
Liberia has slowly regained its political standing following the two civil wars that spanned 14 years, by restoring order and holding peaceful democratic elections.
