Partnering for sustainable peace in Liberia

This policy brief by the Institute for Security Studies examines Liberia's transition to a peaceful democracy ahead of the October 2017 elections and the final drawdown of the UN peacekeeping mission (UNMIL) in March 2018. It argues that while Liberia has made progress, it requires a more coordinated approach to peacebuilding that leverages the comparative advantages of African regional and subregional organisations—such as the AU, ECOWAS, and the MRU—alongside traditional donors and the UN Peacebuilding Commission (PBC).

• Liberia is at a critical transition point characterized by the upcoming October 2017 'open seat' elections and the significant reduction of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), which decreased from over 15,000 troops in 2007 to approximately 1,000 in 2016.
• African regional and subregional organisations (AU, ECOWAS, and MRU) possess a comparative advantage in Liberia due to their long-term interest in regional stability, shared cultural and political overlaps, and the use of South-South cooperation (SSC) principles based on solidarity and non-interference.
• There is a lack of coordination between traditional Northern donors and African actors; the latter often do not attend donor-coordinating meetings because they view themselves as development partners rather than financial donors, leading to ad hoc and unsustained efforts.
• The 2017 elections face risks due to weak institutional capacity of the National Elections Commission (NEC), personality-driven politics, and a lack of an overarching strategy to ensure a smooth transition, particularly regarding voter education and media use.
• Security development is hampered by resource constraints and a lack of political will, evidenced by the Liberian National Police (LNP) having only 5,101 personnel compared to the promised 8,000, and a history of incomplete justice and security hubs.
• Reconciliation remains a major unresolved issue; the 2009 Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) report's recommendations were largely ignored, and there has been no follow-up regarding prosecutions for gross human rights violations.
• Land ownership is a potential trigger for conflict, with 53% of the country's total land given as concessions as of 2013, often through deals with elites that deepened inequalities between local communities and the powerful.
• Decentralisation is critical to addressing root causes of conflict but is hindered by a centralisation of power and the need for simultaneous constitutional reform.
• Women and youth remain highly vulnerable; sexual violence continues to be a serious problem despite a 2006 law, and youth face high unemployment and a lack of qualified vocational training.
• Economic deterioration, caused by the Ebola crisis and falling prices for iron ore and rubber, necessitates a transition from resource extraction to improved productivity in agriculture and a more educated workforce.

APA

Lucey, A., & Kumalo, L. (2017). Partnering for sustainable peace in Liberia. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/paper302.pdf

Chicago

Lucey, Amanda, and Liezelle Kumalo. Partnering for sustainable peace in Liberia. Institute for Security Studies, 2017. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/paper302.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Lucey |first1=Amanda |last2=Kumalo |first2=Liezelle |title=Partnering for sustainable peace in Liberia |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=February 2017 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/paper302.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lucey2017partnering, author = {Lucey, Amanda and Kumalo, Liezelle}, title = {{Partnering for sustainable peace in Liberia}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2017}, month = feb, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/paper302.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }