AfricaBlog: Liberia's New Big Problem Archives

December 15, 2003

Liberia's New Big Problem

Something about this makes me smile.

The United Nations has ordered a pause in the Liberian disarmament process after more fighters wanted to hand in their weapons than was anticipated.

More than 9,000 former fighters turned up at the Schieffelin military barracks, 25km east of the capital.

The camp, which was designed to hold 1,000, has been overwhelmed and the UN says it will stop taking in the former combatants until 20 January.

A UN spokeswoman said they could then return to finish off demobilising.

Hopefully, the disarmament continues to go well. This is certainly a positive response from people who would probably like to get back to the business of living.

Read the story.

Posted by zombyboy at December 15, 2003 12:06 PM

Comments

...and hopefully nothing happens in the meantime that convinces the turned-away individuals that they'd be better off in posession of their weapons after all. Still, it is good news.

Posted by: A-ro at December 15, 2003 10:39 PM

I actually agree with you--any setbacks could result in a lot of those folks deciding not to come back in.

It's good news-- but of a limited sort, I suppose.

Posted by: zombyboy at December 16, 2003 02:29 PM