By Ben Morris in Zwedru, Liberia
As the March 2018 date for its final departure of UNMIL from Liberia closes in, the UN Mission has finally pulled out of the southeastern county of Grand Gedeh.
UNMIL is the United Nations Mission in Liberia, which was deployed in Liberia in 2003 with an initial strength of 15, 000, becoming one of the largest UN missions in Africa.
But at present, both troop and formed police levels in the entire country has trickled down to a few hundreds, following years of drawdown.
The UN Mission’s field office in Grand Gedeh was finally shut down at the weekend, with equipment and facilities formally turned over to local government authorities in the area.
At the turn over program on Friday, the head of the UNMIL field office, Moses Ambimola Orogade expressed gratitude to the people of Grand Gedeh for their cooperation over the past 14 years.
He said UNMIL had provided lots of services and training to the citizens of the County and the southeastern region, including programs in the areas of rule of law and human rights.
Mr Orogade however noted that the departure of the mission from Grand Gedeh will not affect the governance of the County.
The UNMIl official cited the establishment of Civil society platform on human rights, which is heavily supported by UNMIL to help government monitor human rights issues.
“UNMIL drawdown from Grand Gedeh County does not mean the rule of law has broken down or the governance of the county also breaking down no, we will be monitoring things from the headquarters of the mission in Monrovia,” Orogade told the locals.
The UNMIL sector B1 field officer also admonished the security apparatus in the Grand Gedeh County to remain unwavering as Liberia is going through a critical period of transition.
He urged the people of the country to be committed to peace, instead of violence during this electoral process in the country.
The keys for over ten UNMIL 4×4 vehicles were turned over to local authorities by Orogade along with a fire fighter truck.
Other items handed over were dozens of computers, generators, office equipment, airport facilities and the building which was occupied by the UN Mission since 2003.
Receiving the items, Grand Gedeh County Superintendent Peter L. Solo praised UNMIL for their brilliant efforts in the County and Liberia by restoring hope and peace.
Solo said the departure of UNMIL from his County can’t be over emphasized and thanked the mission for installing lots of training for several civil society actors on human rights and rule of law that will help the government in times to come.
“Let me say thanked UNMIL again for bringing back our people from the bushes during the heat of the fourteen years civil war in Liberia,” Solo pointed out.
The Grand Gedeh County Superintendent said the items and facilities turned over by UNMIL will be used for intended purpose.
He said his administration was pleased working with the UN Mission since he took office in 2012, describing UNMIL’s departure from the county as “irreplaceable”.
Meanwhile, some citizens who spoke to www.newspublictrust.com expressed regrets over UNMIL’s departure and called on the UN Mission to establish a skeleton team in the county to monitor governance and human rights activities.
In 2003, UNMIL established a command structure called, Sector B1 in Grand Gedeh County with a number of Liberian civilians being employed.
The Sector B1 in Grand Gedeh County is the last of such UNMIL operations in Southeastern Liberia.
Those in Sinoe, River Gee, Maryland and Grand Kru Counties have all since pulled out, leaving security across the region completely in the control of Liberian government security forces.