Four officers of the Liberia National police (LNP) have been selected to participate in the United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Southern Sudan (UNMISS).
“Our selection to participate in this Mission in Southern Sudan signals the confidence and trust that the United Nations has in the integrity and performance of the Liberia National Police, especially under my administration,” police Inspector General Patrick Sudue expressed.
IG said, “Out of this total number of officers who successfully passed the UN’s Successful Selection Assistance & Assessment Team (SAAT) requirement, we are pleased to inform you that the four officers comprise of three males and one female.”
IG Sudue stressed out that with the setting up of the local peacekeeping desk, 100 officers were vetted and trained by the LNP’s Peacekeeping Desk with oversight from the United Nations Department of Peace Keeping Operations through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia.
He continued that out of the 100 officers trained for UN Missions, 34 officers comprising 31 males and three females were certified by the UN Peacekeeping Department after successfully completing the United Nations Required Test conducted by SAAT.
This 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 and the Inspector General noted that this is the first time that the Liberia National Police is participating in a United Nations Peace Keeping Mission.
“My administration is currently engaged with the United Nations Peacekeeping Department through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensure that the remaining 30 certified officers take assignments at available missions of the United Nations,” he added.
“It is with pleasure that we invite you to present to you a landmark achievement of the Liberia National Police under this current administration, IG told a press conference on yesterday.
“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, Liberia’s Ambassador to the United Nations was now Foreign Minister, His Excellency, D. Maxwell Kemayah,” IG Sudue explained.
IG Sudue stated that,” The meeting afforded me the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Police Adviser and Officer in Charge of the UNPOL, Shaowen Yang where modalities of including the Liberia National Police on Peace Keeping Mission was highlighted with a commitment made of including Liberia on UN Peace Keeping mission.”
He continued, “In May of 2019, upon my return from New York, my administration for the first time in the history of the Liberia National Police, established the LNP’s Peacekeeping Desk headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kalemo D. Karyo, a trained and Professional Police Trainer.”
He noted, “I am very pleased to also inform you that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has also granted us the opportunity of committing One hundred, Forty (140) Formed Police Officers to participate in ECOWAS Standby Force.
He revealed that, “Liberians can be assured of more efforts, under my administration, which are underway in professionalizing and building the capacities of officers of the Liberia National Police in performing its statutory duties and responsibilities of protecting lives and properties.”