Liberia: Peace at last?

The document examines the fragile peace process in Liberia after the departure of President Charles Taylor to Nigeria on August 11, 2003. It details the roles of the caretaker government under Moses Blah, the rebel groups LURD and MODEL, and the security provided by ECOMIL forces. The report highlights significant humanitarian crises, including hundreds of thousands of displaced persons and the widespread use of child soldiers. It identifies critical risks to the peace pact, such as the potential for renewed fighting if power is not handed over to Gyude Bryant by October 14, the continued influence of Taylor from exile, and a security gap created by the departure of US forces before a UN stabilization force can be deployed.

• A peace pact signed in August 2003 mandates a ceasefire and the transition of power from caretaker president Moses Blah to businessman Gyude Bryant on October 14, with democratic elections scheduled for 2005.
• Two primary rebel groups operate in the country: the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), headquartered in Tubmanburg, and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), which controls southern counties including parts of Grand Bassa, Rivercess, and Sinoe.
• Child soldiers, referred to as Small Boy Units (SBUs), comprise an estimated 80 percent of both rebel and government forces, despite denials from leadership.
• Monrovia's critical infrastructure has been almost entirely destroyed, including the electrical power station, water works, and the Freeport of Monrovia, where only 50 percent of the harbor channel is currently usable due to sunken ships and lack of dredging.
• A severe humanitarian crisis persists with hundreds of thousands of displaced people; in Monrovia alone, the UN estimated 450,000 displaced persons, while 60,000 are located in the Maimu, Salala, and Totota camps.
• The security situation remains volatile due to a potential gap in peacekeeping: US forces are scheduled to depart by October 1, while a UN stabilization force under Chapter VII may not be deployed until January 2004.

APA

Hennop, J. (2003). Liberia: Peace at last? Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/LIBERIASEP03.PDF

Chicago

Hennop, Jan. Liberia: Peace at last? Institute for Security Studies, 2003. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/LIBERIASEP03.PDF.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Hennop |first1=Jan |title=Liberia: Peace at last? |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=8 September 2003 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/LIBERIASEP03.PDF |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{hennop2003liberia, author = {Hennop, Jan}, title = {{Liberia: Peace at last?}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2003}, month = sep, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/LIBERIASEP03.PDF}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }