Liberia is protected by the United Nations, financed by international donors and headed by the country’s first democratically elected president Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
The Executive Mansion is on the top of the hill. The UN Mission in Liberia has moved into the tallest building in town a little bit further down the hill. While the newly presented government budget is US $120.2 million the UNMIL has $760.57 million to work with. In addition comes the funding for building schools, houses, water pumps and other development projects from international donors. Money is power and at present Johnson-Sirleaf is beholden to the international community. Her government is protected by 15.000 UN troops.
At present the UN is still popular, even though they press up local prices and accusations of sexual abuse of children by some UN battalions are widespread. The UN also distorts the economy such that they attract talented individuals away from government ministries. Ordinary government workers will take home $26 monthly if the first peacetime budget passes parliament. That is decidedly less than the UN pays local domestic staff.
According to a public opinion survey carried out by US researchers 93,5 percent of the population think the security situation has improved, while 88 percent want UNMIL to stay longer in Liberia.
by Jan Speed
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