MONROVIA, Jan. 12 (LINA) – Four officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) have been selected to participate in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Southern Sudan (UNMISS), Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue has disclosed.
Speaking Tuesday during a press conference at the LNP headquarters, IG Sudue said that the Liberian delegation comprises three males and a female.
He explained that the mission is expected to last for a year, after which a new batch of officers may be dispatched to Southern Sudan based on the prevailing security situation.
Sudue also said that the administration is currently engaged with the United Nations Peacekeeping Department through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the remaining 30 certified Liberian officers take up assignments at available missions of the global body.
« It might interest you to note that this is the first time that the LNP is participating in a United Nations Peace Keeping Mission, » Sudue pointed out.
According to him, the selection of Liberian cops to participate in the Mission in Southern Sudan signals the confidence and trust that the United Nations has in the integrity and performance of the LNP, especially under his administration.
Sudue disclosed that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has also granted the LNP an opportunity to commit 140 Formed Police Officers to participate in ECOWAS Standby Force.
« In my quest to have officers of the Liberia National Police serve in peacekeeping missions, I was invited to New York in December 2018, by then Liberian Ambassador to the United Nations and now Foreign Minister, D. Maxwell Kemayah, » Sudue revealed.
He added that the trip afforded him the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Police Adviser and Officer-in-Charge of the UNPOL, Shaowen Yang, where modalities of including the LNP in Peace Keeping Mission was highlighted with a commitment made to include Liberia in future UN Peace Keeping missions.
According to Sudue, in May of 2019 upon his return from New York, his administration, for the first time in the history of the LNP, established the LNP’s Peace Keeping Desk headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kalemo Karyo, a trained and professional Police Trainer.
« With the setting up of our local Peace Keeping Desk, one hundred officers were vetted and trained by the LN’s Peace Keeping Desk with oversight from the United Nations Department of Peace Keeping Operations, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, » said Sudue.
« Out of 100 officers trained for UN Missions, thirty four officers, comprising 31 males and three females were certified by the UN Peace Keeping Department after successfully completing the United Nations Required Test conducted by the UN Successful Selection Assistance & Assessment Team (SAAT), » Sudue stress.
Sudue assured Liberian of more efforts under his administration, which are underway in professionalizing and building the capacity of officers of the LNP in performing statutory duties and responsibilities of protecting life and prosperity.
« We are very grateful to the government of Liberia though President George M. Weah, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs though it’s Permanent Mission in New York, the United States of America and the Ministry of Justice for all the cooperation and assistance that has led us to reaching this far with the landmark achievement first of its kind in the history of the LNP, » said Sudue.
LINA DMK/PTK
