Report ISS Seminar on Post-Conflict Criminality in Liberia

A report on a September 2008 Institute for Security Studies (ISS) seminar regarding post-conflict criminality in Liberia, based on field research into the impact of UNMIL peacekeeping operations on security and development.

• The seminar identified armed robbery, rape, and ritual killings as the most frequently recorded crimes in Liberia, based on quarterly statistics from the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Crime Analysis Unit.
• Several factors contribute to post-conflict criminality in Liberia, including a weak criminal justice system, faulty vetting and DDRR processes, lack of institutional capacity, high unemployment, uneven migration patterns, and a broken social contract. These elements have led to poor relations between the state and communities and attacks on government institutions like the police.
• The speaker concluded that while Liberia has a fragile peace, the environment remains volatile and susceptible to relapse due to regional political dynamics. Consequently, it was recommended that UNMIL revisit its exit strategy.
• To restore law and order and ensure sustainable security, the seminar recommended building institutional capacity at both national and local levels, rebuilding state institutions (specifically criminal justice institutions), and restoring state authority and legitimacy.

APA

Institute for Security Studies (2008). Report ISS Seminar on Post-Conflict Criminality in Liberia. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/LIBERIASEM100908.PDF

Chicago

Institute for Security Studies. Report ISS Seminar on Post-Conflict Criminality in Liberia. 2008. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/LIBERIASEM100908.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Institute for Security Studies |title=Report ISS Seminar on Post-Conflict Criminality in Liberia |date=10 September 2008 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/LIBERIASEM100908.PDF |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{instituteforsecuritystudies2008report, author = {{Institute for Security Studies}}, title = {{Report ISS Seminar on Post-Conflict Criminality in Liberia}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2008}, month = sep, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/LIBERIASEM100908.PDF}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }