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East/Subsaharan Africa
Guinea ’arms Liberian rebels’
2003-05-06
United Nations officials overseeing sanctions against Liberia have accused Guinea - a member of the UN Security Council - of supplying weapons to Liberian rebels.
Tap..tap..nope
Human rights groups argue that this illustrates the regional dimension of the conflict in West Africa and the need for the Security Council to consider extending its arms embargo to Liberia's neighbouring countries. The Security Council is expected to extend the arms ban on Liberia for a further 12 months later on Tuesday.
Yeah, that'll help.
Done wonders so far...
Security Council members have been presented with a report that portrays the West African region containing Liberia and surrounding countries as an unstable and dangerous area where groups of young men have become accustomed to a life of chaos, banditry and lawlessness.
That discription covers 90% of the continent.
Although Liberia is the focus of existing UN sanctions, the report is highly critical of neighbouring countries for the support and assistance they provide to various rebel groups. It names Guinea as a country that has violated the existing UN arms embargo on Liberia by supplying weapons and military assistance to the rebel group Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd). Diplomatic sources say pressure is being put on the Guinean Government to end its support for a rebel group that is contributing to instability in the region, but it is unlikely to be named explicitly in a new UN resolution that extends the sanctions regime against Liberia for another 12 months. Lobby groups like the New York-based Human Rights Watch say the failure of the UN Security Council to appreciate the regional dimension of the conflict in West Africa will undermine the effectiveness of the new resolution. They say it still portrays Monrovia as the root of all evil in the region at a time when many of Liberia's close neighbours go unpunished despite clear evidence of their support for Liberian rebel groups.
So, what else is new?
Actually, I'm on Guinea's side in this one, though I'm obliged to piously deny it. With that out of the way, LURD is preferable to Charles Taylor, and I say that without knowing anything about what they stand for.
Posted by:Steve

#2  West Africa? Sounds like a great spot for the French to redeem their national honor and bring peace and prosperity to the victims of war and oppression...just look at the great start they've made in Sierra Leone!
Posted by: R. McLeod   2003-05-07 03:20:33  

#1  Even Viagra won't help the UN at this point. Not only is it impotent, but everyone expects it to be and acts accordingly.
Posted by: Becky   2003-05-06 09:12:48  

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