{"id":65649,"date":"2024-10-11T17:17:00","date_gmt":"2024-10-11T17:17:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/liberia\/all-news\/proper-reconciliation-necessary-for-liberia-to-move-forward"},"modified":"2024-10-11T17:17:00","modified_gmt":"2024-10-11T17:17:00","slug":"proper-reconciliation-necessary-for-liberia-to-move-forward","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/liberia\/all-news\/proper-reconciliation-necessary-for-liberia-to-move-forward","title":{"rendered":"\u201cProper Reconciliation Necessary for Liberia to Move Forward\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Liberia. <\/strong><\/span>\u2014 Former UNMIL Force Commander, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Opande, urges<\/b><\/p>\n

Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Daniel Ishmael Opande, the former Force Commander of the erstwhile United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), has returned to Liberia with a strong message of reconciliation and unity for both the government and the people.<\/p>\n

During his visit, Gen. Opande emphasized the importance of coming together to heal and build a brighter future for the nation.<\/p>\n

\u201cI encourage the people of Liberia, as well as the government, to come together to reconcile,\u201d Gen. Opande stated. \u201cI believe that proper reconciliation is necessary for the country to move forward. It may be difficult, as I have seen in my own country, but it is essential for lasting peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

He expressed gratitude for the progress made in both Liberia and Sierra Leone, acknowledging that the success of peacekeeping missions depends heavily on the cooperation of the local populations.<\/p>\n

\u201cWithout the cooperation of the people in these countries, peacekeeping efforts would not be successful,\u201d he said. \u201cPeace cannot be kept if the people themselves are not ready for peace.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reflecting on his experiences, Gen. Opande recalled his first intervention in peacekeeping during the Namibian independence struggle, which essentially launched his career in peacekeeping.<\/p>\n

He returned to Liberia at the end of 2003 to lead the largest peacekeeping operation in the world at the time.<\/p>\n

Gen. Opande\u2019s distinguished military career spans over 42 years, during which he has been actively involved in peacekeeping efforts in various countries, including Namibia, Mozambique, Liberia, and Sierra Leone.<\/p>\n

He noted the challenges of disarmament and stabilization, stating, \u201cIt was not easy, but once disarmament and stabilization of Liberia were achieved, I could return home knowing that I had contributed to the peace process.\u201d<\/p>\n

Since retiring from the military in 2005, Lt. Gen. Opande has longed to revisit Liberia, having witnessed the emotional weight of the devastation brought by the war and, subsequently, the many encouraging stories he heard since his departure about the resilience and progress of the Liberian people.<\/p>\n

\u201cComing back to Liberia after so many years, I feel good that I did something to help bring peace to this country,\u201d he said. \u201cOver the weekend, I visited Gbarnga and Kpatawee, and I saw that the people are now comfortable and peaceful. It fills me with hope.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gen. Opande emphasized the need for personal experiences in understanding Liberia\u2019s current state. \u201cPeople say Liberia is peaceful and improving, but until I [could] see it for myself, I wouldn\u2019t believe what they tell me,\u201d he remarked. \u201cI have met many Liberians who have visited my country, and I have read numerous articles about the developments and changes in your government. Seeing is believing, and I hope I can continue to witness the progress.\u201d<\/p>\n

While in Liberia on his private visit, Gen. Opande expressed appreciation for the progress he observed in Liberia, including the freedom to move around without the security detail he once required as a UN peacekeeping official. \u201cI don\u2019t need soldiers to protect me here like I did before,\u201d he said. \u201cI recently took a taxi to Mamba Point, where I used to live in the 90s. The changes I see are encouraging.\u201d<\/p>\n

He also underscored the importance of reconciliation as a cornerstone for peace. \u201cProper reconciliation is necessary for the country to move forward,\u201d he reiterated. \u201cDuring the war, people were divided along various lines, but now is the time for healing and coming together.\u201d<\/p>\n

Gen. Opande called on the Liberian people and their government to work collectively toward this goal. \u201cIf Liberia can achieve reconciliation and focus on peace, the nation can progress significantly,\u201d he stated. \u201cPeace cannot be achieved overnight; it requires continuous effort and commitment from everyone involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

He shared his belief that Africa, as a continent, can progress more rapidly if its nations can foster peace and cooperation. \u201cWe, as Africans, can advance further if we make peace with ourselves and work together,\u201d he asserted. \u201cWe don\u2019t need to run to Europe or America; we can achieve so much within Africa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reflecting on his peacekeeping philosophy, Gen. Opande said, \u201cI was not formally taught to be a peacekeeper; I taught myself through my experiences, even before I joined the military. My desire has always been to resolve conflicts, whether between my siblings or within communities.\u201d<\/p>\n

When asked about his approach to peacekeeping, he outlined three key priorities: \u201cFirst is the security of the people I lead; second is understanding the nature of the conflict; and third is finding ways to bridge divides between conflicting parties.\u201d He added, \u201cThe sooner a conflict ends, the better it is for everyone involved.\u201d<\/p>\n

In conclusion, Gen. Opande\u2019s visit serves as a reminder of the ongoing journey toward peace and reconciliation in Liberia. His experiences and insights reinforce the message that unity is essential for building a sustainable future for the country.<\/p>\n

For More News And Analysis About Liberia<\/a> Follow Africa-Press<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Africa-Press – Liberia. \u2014 Former UNMIL Force Commander, Lt. Gen. (Rtd) Opande, urges Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Daniel Ishmael Opande, the former Force Commander of the erstwhile United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), has returned to Liberia with a strong message of reconciliation and unity for both the government and the people. During his visit, Gen. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":65648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,12],"tags":[233,237,234],"class_list":["post-65649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all-news","category-policy","tag-africa-press","tag-africa-press-liberia","tag-liberia"],"yoast_head":"\n\u201cProper Reconciliation Necessary for Liberia to Move Forward\u201d - Liberia<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.africa-press.net\/liberia\/all-news\/proper-reconciliation-necessary-for-liberia-to-move-forward\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"\u201cProper Reconciliation Necessary for Liberia to Move Forward\u201d\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Africa-Press – Liberia. \u2014 Former UNMIL Force Commander, Lt. 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