IPNEWS-Monrovia: The United Nations Mission Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) through the Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General in South Sudan and Resident Coordinator in South Sudan, who also serves as Humanitarian Coordination (DSRSG/RC/HC), Sara Beysolow Nyanti has honored nine (9) officers of the Liberia National Police serving the UNMISS for their dedication and commitment to duty in efforts to restore peace in that East Central-African war-torn country.

“I applaud the Liberia National Police and the first ever Liberian police contingent in a peacekeeping mission since 1945. What a pride to have honored the 9 officers in my official capacity as DSRSG/RC/HC in the United Nations Mission in #SouthSudan,” DSRSG Sara Beysolow Nyanti said at an honoring program in Juba, South Sudan.

Liberia became a beneficiary of United Nations Peacekeeping Mission following years of devastating civil war. With the support of the UN and other international partners, including the United States, the country security forces were restructured as Liberia rebuilt from the ashes of war.

After almost a decade and half of UN peacekeepers serving in Liberia and having trained the country’s military and other security personnel, the country in a form of payback to the UN decided to contribute peacekeepers (both military and police officers as well as correction officers and civilian staff to other UN peacekeeping missions around the world).

The first batch of Liberia police for its first UN Mission in Sudan was deployed under the leadership of Police Inspector General Patrick Sudue.

DSRSG/RC/HC Sara Beysolow Nyanti presents a certificate of honor to a female LNP-UN Police officer in Juba, South Sudan

Liberia deployed its first batch of police peacekeepers on a United Nations peacekeeping mission, with four officers departing the country on 14 January for South Sudan in East Central Africa to join other forces under the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS).

South Sudan faced a civil war that broke out from December 2013 through February 2020 before a unity government was formed between President Salva Kiir and rival Riek Machar.

Col. Sudue said back then the LNP expected those officers to exhibit high quality of discipline and to be very diligent, dutiful and responsible in the UN Mission, reminding them that they are Liberia’s ambassadors on the mission.

“You are bearing the Flag of the Republic of Liberia, whatsoever attitude or your deportment out there will represent, will definitely reflect on the Republic of Liberia,” he cautioned.

Col. Sudue noted that the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) went out on a UN Peacekeeping mission and has been making Liberia proud by exhibiting good conduct, thereby urging the police team to follow the good example that the AFL has set.

Giving the historicity of the officers’ selection, Col. Sudue said in his quest to have LNP officers serve on UN Peacekeeping mission, he was invited to New York in December 2018 by former Liberia’s Ambassador to the United Nations, now Foreign Minister Dee – Maxwell Saah Kemayah.

Col. Sudue indicated the meeting afforded him the opportunity to meet with the Deputy Police Adviser and Officer in Charge of the UNPOL, Shaowen Yang where modalities of including the Liberia National Police on Peacekeeping Mission was highlighted with a commitment made of including Liberia on UN Peacekeeping mission.

LNP Inspector General Patrick Sudue- he laid the foundation for LNP going on UN Peacekeeping mission

Upon his return from New York, Col. Sudue stated his administration in May 2019 for the first time in the history of the LNP established the LNP’s Peacekeeping Desk headed by Assistant Commissioner of Police Kalemo D. Karyo, a trained and professional police trainer.

He disclosed that 100 officers were vetted and trained by the 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.

Of that number, he disclosed 34 officers comprising 31 and 3 females were certified by the UN Peacekeeping Department after successfully completing the United Nations Required Test conducted by Successful Selection Assistance & Assessment Team (SAAT).

Out of the certified number of officers, he noted four officers comprising 3 males and 1 female were selected to participate in the United Nations Peacekeeping Mission in Southern Sudan (UNMISS).

Each mission last for a year, after which a new batch of officers are dispatched to Southern Sudan based on the prevailing security situation as the UN may request.

At the press conference, Deputy Police Inspector General for Operations Col. Marvin Sackor reminded the commissioned officers that they represented the nation and the regimental institution, urging them to set standards on the mission.

Fast forward to 2022, the latest batch of LNP officers serving in the UN Peacekeeping Mission in South Sudan, have been honored for dedication, commitment and hard work in efforts to restore peace in that country in keeping with UNMISS’ mandate.

DSRSG/RC/HC Sara Beysolow Nyanti presents a certificate of honor to a male LNP-UN Police officer in Juba, South Sudan

It can be recalled UN Secretary-General António Guterres announced the appointment of Sara Beysolow Nyanti of Liberia as his new Deputy Special Representative in the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS) and Resident Coordinator in South Sudan.  Ms. Nyanti also serve as Humanitarian Coordinator.

Ms. Nyanti succeeded Alain Noudéhou of Benin to whom the Secretary-General was grateful for his leadership and dedicated commitment to the people of South Sudan.

DSRSG/RC/HC Sara Beysolow Nyanti

Ms. Nyanti carried more than 20 years of experience in international development and humanitarian affairs including in conflict and post-conflict settings, most recently serving as Resident Coordinator in Nepal (2021).  She also served as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Yemen (2019-2020) and in the Gambia (2015-2017).  Prior to her senior-level representational roles, she served in numerous technical capacities in UNICEF and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) related to setting up systems for large-scale grant management, social protection/cash transfers, HIV/AIDS, health and education.

Before joining the United Nations in Liberia where she worked during the conflict and transitional Government periods, Ms. Nyanti held senior positions in the Ministry of Health of the Government of Liberia (1999-2003).  She served as the Director of the National AIDS Control Programme and prior to that, she served as Special Assistant to the Minister of Health.

Ms. Nyanti holds a master’s degree in public administration from the New Charter University, United States.  She most recently completed a second master’s in management and leadership from Western Governors University, United States, and is an accredited broker with the United Kingdom-based international Partnership Broker Association managing and developing collaboration processes.  She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in transformational leadership.