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ECOWAS Prepares to Deploy Intervention Force

UN Integrated Regional Information Networks
NEWS
July 18, 2003
Posted to the web July 18, 2003
Accra
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has began initial moves
to deploy a vanguard force of peacekeepers into Liberia amid reports that
rebels fighting to topple President Charles Taylor had advanced to the Po
River, 17 km west of the capital, Monrovia.
The renewed fighting sent thousands of Liberians, who were recently displaced
from the western outskirts of Monrovia, streaming into the city centre.
Throughout Thursday, civilians from the Brewersville suburbs headed into the
city, carrying their meager belongings on their heads.
Panicking fleeing people told IRIN sounds of heavy gunfire could be heard from
the Po River area. They said the rebels had taken control of Mango Town near
the frontline, after advancing on Wednesday from Kley Junction, 37 km west of
Monrovia through Sastown.
ECOWAS sources told IRIN in the Ghanaian capital, on Friday: "Over the weekend,
we will send in a Technical Survey Team (TST) into Monrovia to prepare the
grounds for the deployment of a vanguard force of about 1,500 troops to secure
the capital."
The TST will consist of eight ECOWAS members, one representative each from the
United Nations and the United States of America. It will temporarily take over
the role of a Joint Verification Team (JVT), which according to a June 17
ceasefire agreement, was to determine the locations of the warring factions
prior to the deployment of an International Intervention Force.
Due to logistical problems however, the JVT is still grounded in Sierra Leone.
Sources said the ECOWAS vanguard force could be deployed in a week or two. It
is expected to resurrect a fragile cease-fire signed last month between
Taylor's government and two rebel groups, the Liberians United for
Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia
(MODEL), in the Ghanaian capital, Accra.
ECOWAS sources said to prevent a further escalation in ceasefire infringements,
it had become necessary to expedite the deployment of a vanguard intervention
force to, first of all, secure Monrovia.
The TST will do reconnaissance to facilitate the immediate deployment of the
peacekeepers. However, unlike the JVT, the Survey team would not consist of
representatives of the various warring factions.
The ECOWAS force Commander, Nigerian Brigadier General Festus Okonkwo, was
expected in Ghana on Friday. The vanguard troops, ECOWAS sources told IRIN,
would consist of troops from Nigeria, Ghana, Mali and Senegal.
The immediacy of deploying West African troops into Liberia came as it became
clear that the United States would not commit troops into Liberia, unless
ECOWAS forces go in first.
US President George Bush also insists that Taylor must leave Liberia first. But
Taylor insists he will not leave until peacekeepers arrive in the country. He
also wants an indictment against him on charges of war crimes, by a UN-backed
Special Court in neighbouring Sierra Leone to be rescinded.
On Thursday, the President of the Special Court, Justice Geoffrey Robertson
asked for cooperation to bring indicted war criminals including Taylor to
justice, who was indicted in March on seventeen-counts relating to his role in
supporting rebels in Sierra Leone during that country's civil war of 1991-2001.
The rebels committed serious atrocities against civilians including murder,
rape and amputations of limbs.

   

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