MONROVIA EAC CONVENED TO ADDRESS RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN

UNCLAS MONROVIA 000260 SIPDIS DEPT FOR DS/IP/AF, DS/TIA/ITA, AF/W NGAREY AND INR/AA BGRAVES E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: ASEC LI SUBJECT: MONROVIA EAC CONVENED TO ADDRESS RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE IN NORTHERN LIBERIA REF: MONROVIA SPOT REPORT DATED 26 FEB 2010 TO DS COMMAND CENTER ¶1. (SBU) Post convened the EAC on 26 February in response to an outbreak of religious violence between Muslims and Christians in the northern Liberian city of Voinjama. Voinjama is the Lofa County seat, and both the city and county have a mix of Muslims and Christians, with Muslims being the majority. Voinjama is approximately 200 miles north of the capital of Monrovia and reachable only by poor roads or small aircraft. ¶2. (SBU) COM, RSO, POL, SAA, CONS, and Peace Corps briefed the EAC on information their respective offices had received from counterparts and contacts. CONS has issued a Warden Message to all American citizens. Peace Corps country team is in constant communication with two PCVs who have sheltered in place in Voinjama. OSC reports that one DOD member posted with the UN in Voinjama is currently in Monrovia. ¶3. (SBU) COM is in contact with Government of Liberia (GOL) officials as well as UN counterparts and all other Embassy reporting offices have been advised to maintain situational awareness of the activities in Voinjama, as well as to monitor for any indications that unrest may be spreading to Monrovia, the country's population center. Currently, all indications are that the clashes are localized in the Voinjama area. However, given religious and ethnic sensitivities of past conflicts in Liberia, the potential exists for this unrest to spread beyond the Voinjama/Lofa County area; therefore, Post will continue to monitor the situation throughout the weekend. ¶4. (SBU) POC for this cable is RSO Christopher J. Gillis, GillisCJ@state.gov, cell: 011-231-77-516702, IVG: 766-1272. THOMAS-GREENFIELD