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UN Security Council cuts Liberia peacekeeping mission

Xinhua, April 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

The UN Security Council on Thursday adopted a resolution authorizing the drawdown for the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

According to the resolution, UNMIL's force levels will be cut to 3,590 military personnel and 1,515 police personnel during the current mandate period, which expires Sept. 30, representing a 25 percent reduction and a 16 percent cut from the levels authorized and adopted on Dec. 15, 2014, respectively.

The resolution also highlighted the Council's concern about border security, particularly between Liberia and Cote d'Ivoire.

It called on the governments of the two countries to "continue reinforcing their cooperation, particularly with respect to the border area."

The resolution also reaffirmed the Council's expectation that the government of Liberia will assume full responsibility for security from UNMIL by June 30, 2016.

UNMIL was set up in 2003 to bolster a ceasefire agreement after a civil war killed almost 150,000 Liberians -- mostly civilians -- and forced some 850,000 others to flee to neighboring countries.

The UN Security Council extended in December the mandate of UNMIL for another nine months until Sept. 30, 2015 so that the mission can continue to provide humanitarian assistance and electoral support as well as human rights promotion and protection there. Endite