MONROVIA: In commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the signing of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement on August 18, 2003, the Government of the United States of America through its Embassy in Monrovia has congratulated all Liberians for keeping the peace after enduring decades of bloody civil conflict that was only settled by arbitration.
According to an August 17 US Embassy Monrovia press release, Liberians – women, youth, civil society, and religious groups should be proud to end the brutal civil war.
“Your country should be proud of this achievement,” the US Embassy stated, noting that as Liberians celebrate 20 years of peace and democratic governance, which occurred due to the enormous sacrifices of ordinary people, the United States continues to be a strong partner of Liberia.
“When Liberians go to the polls in October, we remind all political parties to adhere to the Farmington River Declaration, to condemn all violence and violent rhetoric, and keep their commitment to free, fair, and peaceful elections,” the US Government advised.
The United States played a yeoman’s role in enhancing the Liberian peace process by providing substantial material, financial and human resource support to the country when it needed it the most.
The US Government did not only provide financial and material assistance to the country to end its bloody civil conflict, but was also instrumental in sponsoring key governance and security sector reforms in the country.
The Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement or Accra Peace Agreement was the final peace agreement in the Second Liberian Civil War. It was signed on 18 August 2003 in Accra, Ghana. It was created following the signing of a ceasefire agreement on 17 June 2003 and “intensive back-door negotiations” beginning on 4 June in Akosombo, Ghana.
The Agreement called for the establishment of a post-war two-year transitional government (National Transitional Government of Liberia) which would consist of 76 members: 12 each from the three warring parties; 18 from political parties; seven from civil society and special interest groups; and one from each of Liberia’s 15 counties. The warring parties, the opposition parties and civil society groups agreed to share ministerial portfolios and employment opportunities in the cabinet and parliament and elections were to be held no later than 2005.
The peace agreement covered a broad range of intended reforms; committing to a human rights inquiry through a truth commission, and vetting of the security forces on human rights grounds.
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