An advance inspection team of a long-promised multinational peacekeeping force flew into Liberia’s besieged capital Wednesday, as explosions and gunfire rocked Monrovia despite a new rebel pledge to cease fire. Pressure built to get a peace force on the ground. The United States asked the U.N. Security Council to authorize what would be a west African-led force, quickly followed with a U.N. force by Oct. 1. Nigerian military commanders and other west African and U.S. team members arrived in a Ghanaian military flight to the Liberian capital, where authorities said the team would assess conditions for a peace force promised after rebels opened their attack on the refugee-crowded capital in early June. Greeted by Liberian and American officials, Nigerian Brig. Gen. Festus Okonkwo, who would oversee any west African deployment, said on arrival that the first peace forces would follow him in days — a time frame repeatedly held out by west African officials in recent weeks. Full Story
About OODA Analyst
OODA is comprised of a unique team of international experts capable of providing advanced intelligence and analysis, strategy and planning support, risk and threat management, training, decision support, crisis response, and security services to global corporations and governments.