Attachments
I. Introduction
1 . The Security Council, in its resolution 2239 (2015), affirmed its intention to consider the possible withdrawal of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and transition to a future United Nations presence that would support the Government of Liberia in consolidating peace, based on the Council’s review of Liberia’s overall capacity to ensure stability and security conditions on the ground, and, in that regard, requested me to conduct an assessment mission to Liberia in order to provide recommendations. That request was reiterated in resolution 2308 (2016), in which the Council extended the mandate of UNMIL until 31 December 2016 and requested me to include an update on the modalities for transferring to the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) pursuant to resolution 2295 (2016) the quick reaction force established within the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI) pursuant to resolution 2162 (2014). In accordance with those resolutions, a strategic assessment mission visited Liberia to assess the situation on the ground and consult with national and other stakeholders. The present report contains the findings of that assessment and my recommendations on the future of UNMIL.
II. Strategic assessment
2 . The strategic assessment mission conducted its field visit from 29 August to 8 September 2016. It was led by the Department of Peacekeeping Operations and comprised representatives from the Department of Field Support, the Department of Political Affairs, the Department of Safety and Security, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, the Peacebuilding Support Office, the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), UNOCI and UNMIL, as well as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the United Nations Children’s Fund, representing, respectively, United Nations development and humanitarian agencies, funds and programmes. 3. The assessment team met with a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and members of her Cabinet; the leadership of the Senate and the House of Representatives; the Chief Justice and other Supreme Court justices; senior security officials, including the leadership of the army, police, immigration and corrections services; the national commissions responsible for elections, governance, human rights, law reform, small arms and anti-corruption; integrity institutions; the land task force; political parties; civil society, including women’s groups, traditional chiefs and elders, religious leaders, and media managers; representatives of the diplomatic and donor community; the United Nations country team; and UNMIL. The team also visited Bong and Grand Gedeh counties.