Post-Civil War Liberia Takes Shape

Warlords divided up top posts in a new Liberian government Saturday after a peace deal ended nearly six years of civil war that killed about 150,000 people.

In the new Cabinet, chief warlord Charles Taylor’s loyalists took the key foreign affairs, Interior and justice portfolios.

Apparently satisfied with power-sharing so far, Taylor called for disarmament to begin quickly to clear the way for presidential elections in which he is a declared candidate.

Taylor told the Press Union of Liberia that he had invited troops of the official West African intervention force to move into his stronghold of Gbarnga today. The force was sent to Liberia in 1990 by the Economic Community of West African States.

“I have invited [them] to deploy in Gbarnga tomorrow,” Taylor said to cheers from the audience. He promised that his National Patriotic Front of Liberia will disarm faster than any other group following an accord last month to end civil war.

A joint committee of the West African force, U.N. military observers and representatives of the warring factions is due to meet Monday to start mapping plans to disarm an estimated 60,000 combatants.

In its first important decision, Liberia’s new ruling Council of State made nine Cabinet-level appointments.

Taylor’s NPFL, which started the civil war in 1989 and is the main armed faction, took four of the posts.

Foreign spokesman Momolu Sirleaf became foreign minister. Another NPFL stalwart, Joshua Suah, was named Interior minister. The Justice Ministry went to Francis Garlawolo, Taylor’s legal adviser.

With a new administration taking shape a day after a temporary ruling council was installed, regional power Nigeria called for more foreign troops to consolidate peace in Liberia.

Nigerian Foreign Minister Tom Ikimi estimated that a successful disarmament would require more men for the 8,000-strong Nigerian-led West African force to establish its authority in Liberia.

Nigeria has moved tanks, naval ships and warplanes to Liberia to give muscle to the force.