UN ends sanctions on Liberia

The last remaining United Nations sanctions on Liberia were lifted on Wednesday in a decision the United States said was a tangible sign of how far the West African country had come.
The UN Security Council voted unanimously to lift an arms embargo on rebel groups that was imposed 13 years ago to support a peace deal that ended a devastating war.
It was the last punitive measure in force from a sweeping series of sanctions that had included travel bans, assets freezes and a ban on lumber and diamond exports.
US Deputy Ambassador David Pressman said the decision showed “how far Liberia has come” in its transition to peace and marked the first time since 1992 that the country was not under UN sanctions.
Liberia’s charge d’affaires George Patten told the council that sanctions had helped stabilize the country and that the government was now ready to take steps to beef up security.
“Targeted sanctions in the context of Liberia have been very constructive,” said Patten.
With the international measures now all lifted, Liberia has adopted gun-control legislation and is taking steps to strengthen control of its borders, he said.
The United Nations is also drawing down its peacekeeping mission in Liberia, UNMIL, which now has around 3 700 troops and police on the ground from its high point of 15 000.
The UNMIL mission helped Liberia during the deadly Ebola outbreak that killed thousands and brought the fragile health care system to its knees.