New partnership agreement with Liberia, shows 'clear positive impact of UN peacekeeping'.

A formal agreement between Liberia and the UN to supply peacekeeping personnel to serve in the UN Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), marks an 'immensely significant' transition for the former war-torn West African nation, its UN Ambassador said in New York on Tuesday.

Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, was speaking after signing a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UN's head of Operational Support, (DOS) Atul Khare, acknowledging Liberia's contribution of a Force Protection Company to MINUSMA. The 105-strong contingent, consists of 105 peacekeepers who have been serving in the key base of Timbuktu, since October 2016.

For decades, Liberia was a host nation for 'blue helmets' rather than a provider of peacekeeping troops, beginning in 1993, including a Peacekeeping Mission that was based in the country between September 2003, and March last year.

That month, UN chief Antonio Guterres welcomed the full drawdown of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) and congratulated its people for turning the page on crisis and conflict. A total of 202 peacekeepers lost their lives, in the aftermath of two devastating civil wars, between 1989 and 2003.

Under-Secretary-General Khare said during the signing ceremony on Tuesday that "Liberia's path to peace demonstrates the clear positive impact of UN peacekeeping as a country that moved from conflict to stability and today is a key partner in assisting other countries in need".

Tribute paid to fallen Liberian peacekeeper

At the signing, the UN also paid tribute to the service and sacrifice of Liberian peacekeeper Ousmane Ansu Sherif, who lost his life in an attack on a...