By Aloys Uwimana UNV Civil Affairs Expert
A native of Rwanda and US citizen, I joined the Civil Affairs Section of UNMIL in January 2005. I was then deployed to Gbarnga, Bong County, for two years and to Sanniquellie, Nimba County, for five years.
While managing my daily workload, I benefited from my work experience around the world as a career diplomat as well as my familiarity with cultural sensitivity. I had, however, to adapt my knowledge and experience in international politics and conflict resolution mechanisms to locally sensitive issues in the context of civil war to find appropriate ways to tackle them.
In this regard, Civil Affairs Section and UNCST Project were instrumental in providing useful tools and mechanisms trough trainings and workshops on all aspects of conflict and peacebuilding, mentoring, civil-military coordination, project management, fiscal management, local elected leadership roles and competences, local economic development and human rights based programming.
I joined the Mission amidst the DDRR process while violence was still widespread. Mob violence and taking the law in one’s hands were the rules of the game.
Challenges for the first four years were mainly to restore state authority, contain violence, educate people (most of them ex-combatants) on the rule of law and due process, and put in place – and implement – conflict resolution mechanisms programs.
Given the size of Nimba, the bad road network condition and lack of accommodation in most areas, local authorities secured accommodation for me in their homes. This happened for example in the City of Bahn in 2008 during the PRS/CDA consultations and Butuuo Town while coordinating the SRSG visit in January 2011.
In 2007 while travelling from Sanniquellie to Ganta to receive the SRSG, the Superintendent’s car we were using- our Civil Affairs vehicle was in the workshop- broke down and stuck in the mud. We had to walk miles, sleep on the benches under the rain in Gbedin and ride motorcycles the next day from Gbedin to Ganta. We had left Sanniquellie at 17:30 and reached Ganta at 06:30 the next day to learn that the SRSG trip was cancelled due to bad weather. Once I also slept in the car along with my colleague the HRPO in Karnplay due to bad road conditions and curfew.
We were coming from BONGAPLAY, Twah River District, at the border with Côte d’Ivoire where we went for disaster assessment in collaboration with county officials. As CAE, I am advisor to the County Disaster Committee.
In fact, I assumed RRR and HCS responsibilities since these two Sections were never represented in Sanniquellie. I will not forget the tragic helicopter accident that killed three crew members in Ganta in December 2008. I was the first to access the scene along with the BANBATT.
Monrovia was relying on me for hourly information while I dealt with all evacuation formalities. This accident made me realize how peacekeepers risk their lives while helping countries and people achieve peace, security and a better way of life.
Despite all these difficulties, I learned to adjust and got a lot satisfaction out of my work.
Of course Liberia has immensely changed since I arrived in the country. Basic systems are being gradually restored and housing has mushroomed. The road network is being rehabilitated and the entertainment industry as well as the transport sector is developing.
Accommodation and restoration services for example can be found in all major centers in Nimba and the trip from Sanniquellie to Ganta (35 km) is now 35 minutes against hours or days in the past. Much more, however, needs to be done. Aloys completed his UN Volunteer assignment at the end of December 2011