1. Home
  2. West Africa
  3. Liberia
  • News

Commission calls for 6,000-man multi-ethnic army

A government commission on restructuring the Liberian army has called for an immediate redocumentation of the military to determine who would be demobilised or retired, independent Star Radio reported at the weekend. Blamo Nelson, who heads the 24-member commission set up in May, recommended a 6,000-man army. The recommendations, which he presented to President Charles Taylor on Thursday, said the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) disintegrated during the civil war because it was dominated by one ethnic group - the Krahn of late President Samuel Doe. Now the commission wants recruitment centres established across the country, to ensure a more even ethnic balance in the military. Under the Abuja peace accord that ended seven years of civil war in Liberia, the West African Intervention force ECOMOG was supposed to build and train a new national army, based on an even ethnic representation. But Liberia balked at this saying only the government would determine the make-up and training of its military. Star Radio reported on Friday that Taylor said on Thursday his government would work with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) - which commands ECOMOG - the OAU and the UN for professional advisers, trainers and for funds so the military could be rebuilt.

This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

Share this article

Get the day’s top headlines in your inbox every morning

Starting at just $5 a month, you can become a member of The New Humanitarian and receive our premium newsletter, DAWNS Digest.

DAWNS Digest has been the trusted essential morning read for global aid and foreign policy professionals for more than 10 years.

Government, media, global governance organisations, NGOs, academics, and more subscribe to DAWNS to receive the day’s top global headlines of news and analysis in their inboxes every weekday morning.

It’s the perfect way to start your day.

Become a member of The New Humanitarian today and you’ll automatically be subscribed to DAWNS Digest – free of charge.

Become a member of The New Humanitarian

Support our journalism and become more involved in our community. Help us deliver informative, accessible, independent journalism that you can trust and provides accountability to the millions of people affected by crises worldwide.

Join