LIBERIA: PRESIDENT SIRLEAF DISSOLVES MAYORAL TASK FORCE,

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000646

SENSITIVE
SIPDIS

E.O.12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV PHUM SOCI LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: PRESIDENT SIRLEAF DISSOLVES MAYORAL TASK FORCE,
APOLOGIZES TO MUSLIMS

REF: A) MONROVIA 483 B) MONROVIA 134


1. (SBU) SUMMARY. President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has dissolved a
task force headed by Acting Monrovia City Mayor, Mary Broh, and
apologized to members of the National Muslim Council after Broh and
members of her task force were involved in a scuffle with Muslims at
a mosque in Monrovia on August 29 in which several persons were
assaulted and properties damaged. The task force attempted to
remove stalls near the mosque that were erected for the celebration
of Ramadan. Broh's task force has received praise by many for its
efforts to clean up the city, and President Sirleaf has viewed Broh
as a positive force for change. However, these actions have given
Broh's detractors an opening to criticize her brashness in enforcing
municipal laws, so President Sirleaf had to respond quickly to quell
the controversy. END SUMMARY.


2. (U) According to press accounts, Acting Mayor of Monrovia Mary
Broh led her Special Presidential Task Force (Ref A) to clean up
around the Benson Street Mosque, just as Muslim worshippers were
setting up stalls of food along the sidewalk in preparation for the
breaking of fast. A scuffle ensued, and the Liberia National Police
was called in to restore order.


3. (U) President Sirleaf promptly took steps to calm the situation
by issuing a formal apology on August 30 and ordered the immediate
dissolution of the task force. Then, on September 1, she personally
visited the Benson Street Mosque in Monrovia along with Broh, and
both apologized to the Muslim community. Broh resolved to work more
closely with Muslim leaders in her efforts to clean up the city.


4. (U) Mary Broh was appointed to head a Special Presidential Task
Force to clean up Monrovia in February. Before its dissolution, the
task force undertook some commendable steps to beautify Monrovia by
creating flower parks, painting sidewalks and street corners, and
clearing street peddlers who contributed to the city's frequent
traffic jams. The task force also removed daily piles of garbage
using trucks and bulldozers from the streets of Monrovia.


5. (SBU) The cleanup campaign has not been without controversy.
Broh and the task force have been accused of indiscriminately
destroying properties and aggression against citizens in the name of
cleaning up the city of Monrovia. The demolition of several
squatter communities in and around Monrovia has drawn criticism from
some Monrovians and opposition politicians. The task force has
clashed with residents in several parts of Monrovia, but the scuffle
with Muslims on August 29 threatened to bring religious tensions
back to the fore. Muslim leaders had threatened to use their
followers to get even with Broh and the task force before Sirleaf
calmed the situation.


6. (SBU) COMMENT. The prompt action by President Sirleaf to
apologize to Muslims for the incident is an indication that
religious tolerance is a sensitive and serious issue in Liberia.
The dissolution of the Presidential task force despite its many
achievements also indicates the seriousness that President Sirleaf
attaches to issues of religious discontent. However, it appears
that Sireaf remains solidly behind her Acting Mayor, despite Broh's
insensitive actions. The incident will also harden the position of
members of the Senate who are against the confirmation of Mary Broh
as Mayor of Monrovia (Ref A).

ROBINSON