AfricaBlog

Liberia Update

U.S. forces are heading home:

Military forces from the Economic Community of West African States have succeeded in establishing a safe area so humanitarian operations in Liberia can proceed, said officials. American forces will leave the country Oct. 1.

The USS Carter Hall and USS Nashville left the area over the past weekend with 1,550 soldiers and Marines. The USS Iwo Jima still is in the area and will return as soon as orders are cut, said Navy officials.

A small group of Marines will stay in Monrovia, assisting with security at the U.S. Embassy.

I'm taking this as a good sign--or at least a signal that things are expected to stay relatively stable for the near future. Hopefully, that will hold true--or even better, there will be continued improvement in the situation there.

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