POLITICS-LIBERIA: UN Sanctions Hit Maritime Industry

By Lansana Fofana Reprint | | Print |

Lansana Fofana

FREETOWN, Nov 5 2001 (IPS) - Liberia is reeling under the latest UN sanctions, which target the country’s maritime industry.

The embargo, which was imposed last week, followed the one slapped in May by the world body.

The latest move spotlighted Liberia’s maritime industry, with allegations that revenue accrued from the widespread use of Liberia’s flag of convenience by shipping companies, are diverted towards purchasing weapons, even though the country is already under an arms embargo.

“About 18 million dollars are annually generated from this activity and used for procuring arms and ammunition to further destabilise the sub-region,” noted a UN report.

An embargo on Liberia’s maritime sector will deal a serious blow to the country’s cash-strapped economy.

The UN Security Council had placed a bar on the export of Liberian diamonds because of allegations that the government in that country was colluding with Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels, in neighbouring Sierra Leone to smuggle out conflict diamonds. Liberia was also accused of gunrunning with the rebels.

The sanctions in May also placed travel restrictions on senior Liberian government officials and members of their families.

As the sanctions continue to show their debilitating impact, Liberia took steps to soften global criticism and hard stance against the government. President Charles Taylor moved swiftly to “disengage” from the RUF and expelled many senior rebel officials from his country.

The Liberian leader also grounded all Liberian planes, following accusations that some were involved in nebulous activities with the RUF, like gunrunning.

The two key powers behind the UN sanctions against Liberia are Britain and the United States. And so, when the Sep 11 tragedy hit America, Taylor wept far more than the bereaved, in a bid to cajole the Americans and their British allies.

Firstly, President Taylor summoned Muslim clerics, berated them and warned that any trace of their ties to Islamic fundamentalists in the Muslim would be met with full force.

Journalists who organised radio talk shows on the September terrorist attacks against America were arrested by state security and their stations briefly closed down. Taylor even offered modest logistical support to the UN-British coalition such as the country’s airstrip in the ongoing military campaign against Afghanistan.

All these fell on deaf ears as the Security Council’s special committee on sanctions went ahead and extended the restrictions on Liberia. Not surprisingly, a senior Liberian official thundered in reaction: “This is unfair. We’ve done everything possible to convince the world that we are changing our outlook. How can they hit us with more sanctions?”

There are many anti-sanctions billboards decorating the streets of Monrovia, the Liberian capital. Why, not? The Taylor-led government is engaged in a bloody-armed conflict, waged on its northern borders with Guinea, by dissident forces. This has taken a toll on civilians as well as on what is left of the country’s infrastructure.

The West African nation was locked in a protracted civil war from 1989 to 1996 leaving more than 150,000 people dead. Taylor came to office after elections in 1997. He was himself a rebel leader, but it seems bad governance and Taylor’s intolerance of opposition has rekindled the conflict.

Meanwhile, President Taylor has called on all Liberians to put aside their differences. The appeal was mainly directed at dissidents who call themselves as the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Development (LURD). His detractors though, see Taylor’s appeal as the ploy of a desperate man.