For the first time the Liberia National Police is sending fours officers, comprising three males and one female have been vetted and qualified to represent Liberia at the United Nations Mission in Southern Sudan (UNMISS).
The four officers include: Chief Superintendent Togba Massaquoi, Chief Superintendent Anthony Blaye, Superintendent Richael B. Harris, Sargeant Abdullah Dukuly.
In December 2018, Police Chief, IGP. Patrick Toe Sudue was invited to New York, United States of America through the efforts of His Excellency, D. Maxwell Kemayah, then head of Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations.
IG Sudue held a successful meeting with the Deputy Police Adviser and Officer in Charge of UNPOL, Shaowen Yang who assured the Liberian Police chief of including the LNP in UN Peace Keeping Missions.
In May 2019, upon his return from New York, his administration for the first time in the history of the Liberia National police established the LNP’s Peacekeeping Desk headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police, Kalemo D. Karyo, a trained and professional Police Trainer.
With the setting up of the LNP’s local Peacekeeping desk, one hundred officers were vetted and trained by LNP’s Peacekeeping Desk with oversight from the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia.
Out of the 100 officers trained for UN Mission, thirty four officers comprising thirty one males and three females were certified by the UN Peacekeeping Department after successfully completing the United Nations Required Test conducted by successful Selection Assistance & Assessment Team (SAAT).
Of the total number of officers who successfully passed the UN’s SAAT requirements, four officers from the thirty four successful officers comprising three males and one female, have been selected to participate in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Southern Sudan(UNMISS).
According to an LNP release, the mission is expected to last for a year which a new batch of officers may be dispatched to Southern Sudan based on the prevailing security situation.
The Liberia National police under the leadership of IGP Patrick Toe Sudue is currently engaged with the United Nations Peacekeeping Department through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to ensuring that the remaining thirty (30) certified officers take assignment at available Missions of the United Nations.
The LNP’s selection to participate in the Mission in Sudan, signals the confidence and trust that the United Nations has in the integrity and performance of the Liberia National police, especially, under this current leadership of the Liberia National police.
During the ceremony on Tuesday, January 12, 2021 at the Headquarters of the Liberia National police, IGP Sudue expressed gratitude to the selected officers for their brilliant and excellent performance during the course of the SAAT.
He further told news men that the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) has also granted the LNP another opportunity of committing One Hundred, Forty (140) Formed Police officers to participate in ECOWAS Standby Force.
The Police Chief further indicated that under his Administration, Liberians can be assured of more efforts which are underway in professionalizing and building the capacities of the Liberia National police in performing its statutory duties and responsibilities of protecting life and property.
He concluded by thanking the Government of Liberia through the president of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency, Dr. George Manneh Weah, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs through its permanent Mission in New York, the United States of America and the Ministry of Justice for all the cooperation and Assistance that has led the LNP to reaching this far with this landmark achievement, first of its kind in the history of the Liberia National police.
