New era for Liberia: Mbeki
13 August 2003
President Thabo Mbeki on Monday welcomed ex-Liberian president Charles Taylor’s departure into exile in Nigeria.
Taylor handed over the reigns to his deputy, Moses Blah, in the capital Monrovia on Monday in a move aimed at bringing an end to 14 years of destructive civil war in the country.
Speaking at the ceremony, where Taylor officially quit his post, Mbeki said South Africa supported peace efforts in the troubled west African nation.
This will include supporting the setting up of a transitional government of national unity, set to be installed in October by incumbent president Blah. The move will lead to inclusive elections in Africa's oldest, nation founded by freed American slaves in 1822.
Wishing Blah well in his new post, Mbeki said it was "shameful" that Africans had been brutally mowing each other down for such a long time. He appealed to Africans on and off the continent to support Liberians so they could overcome the
violent past and lead "happy, normal, peaceful and prosperous lives".
"It is the obligation of all of us as Africans on the continent, Africans in the Diaspora, to make sure that we extend this hand of solidarity to the Liberian people so that they can overcome the consequences of this conflict", Mbeki said.
The conflict in the diamond-rich nation erupted more than 10 years ago in a power struggle that recently aimed at ousting Taylor.
The fighting escalated last year when insurgents took over a significant part of the country and staged attacks within 25 kilometres of Monrovia. In recent days, fighting has escalated, leaving hundreds of civilians dead with the government only in control of half the country.
Last week, Taylor telephoned Mbeki requesting him to come and witness his exit.
Mozambican president and African Union chairman Joaquim Chissano, and Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas) chairman and Ghanaian president John Kufuor,
also attended the event.
Taylor, who has been indicted by the international criminal tribunal for war crimes against humanity in Sierra Leone spanning more than 14 years, has been under international pressure, especially from the United States, to vacate office and go into exile.
Previously, Taylor vowed not to leave until an international force had been deployed in Liberia. Nigeria has since deployed a peacekeeping force there. South Africa is yet to decide on sending peacekeeping troops to the embattled nation.
Source: BuaNews
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