AFRICA/LIBERIA - Happy and hopeful although conscious of difficulties ahead Liberia waits for new President to take office

Friday, 13 January 2006

Monrovia (Fides Service) - Aged 25 years, more than half of them lived as a refugee in another country: this is the identity kit of most Liberians about to celebrate the installation of the new president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf on Monday 16 January. “The resettling of hundreds of thousands of Liberians who fled the country during the civil was is certainly one of the most urgent problems facing the new President” says Society for African Missions Fr Mauro Armanino in Monrovia capital of Liberia.
“Here with me is a boy whose mother fled the country in 1991, taking refuge first in Sierra Leone and then when civil war started there in Guinea where she is now” the missionary says. “I know also of cases of Liberians who have returned and live in refugee camps around Monrovia”.
The new President faces a difficult task but she has already obtained one very positive result: she has restored hope and dignity to Liberians at the end of their tether after so many years of civil war. “As they prepare to celebrate the installation of the new President the people are happy and I would say also proud” says Fr Armanino. “Especially the women are proud because Ms Johnson-Sirleaf is the first ever African woman to become head of state and what is more by means of free and democratic elections. No small success for a country known hitherto only for the horrors of its civil war”.
“The air is festive” the missionary continues. “Three days of celebrations for the installation of the President start on Saturday 14. The first event will be a cultural gathering at Monrovia’s main sports ground with traditional Liberian dancing and singing a fruit of the encounter between gospel culture of US origin with the local culture. The event will serve to reaffirm the nation’s spiritual and cultural identity which civil war threatened to destroy”.
On Sunday 15 January Ms Johnson-Sirleaf, a Methodist, will go to church, and then in the afternoon have a meeting with representatives of Liberian women to discuss women’s difficulties and the future of the country. On Monday 16 she will be installed in the presence of a number of foreign delegations.
“The arrival of so many personalities from abroad including US Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice is a cause of apprehension for the local security forces which have however been reinforced with foreign elements” the missionary says.
“The installation of the new President will close the 2 year period of transition which led to the elections” says Fr. Armanino. “It has been a period of lights and shadows. On the positive side there has been a return of a certain degree of security and very relative wellbeing at least for those who found jobs with NGOs and the United Nations which opened offices in Liberia. However on the other hand the structural shortage remains. Many parts of the country and even some districts of Monrovia are without electricity or running water. Thousands of houses are in ruins, although many have begun to rebuild their homes”.
“Therefore the path of President Johnson-Sirleaf is all uphill. However she knows and is known by the international community and this may be an advantage to attract foreign aid and investments. I hope she will succeed in not excluding the people from the decision making process which will shape the future of the country” the missionary concludes. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 13/1/2006 righe 48 parole 615)


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