LIBERIA / WEAH INAUGURATION

George Weah, today (22 Jan) was inaugurated on as the new president of the Republic of Liberia where the United Nations is about to close its peacekeeping mission in two months after 15 years of presence. UNIFEED

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:02:42
• Production Date: 22 January 2018
• Asset Language: English
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN LIBERIA - UNMIL
• Subject Topical: PEACEKEEPING OPERATIONS; PRESIDENTS
• Geographic Subject: LIBERIA
• MAMS Id: 2079025
• Parent Id: 2079025
• Alternate Title: unifeed180122f

Description

STORY: LIBERIA / WEAH INAUGURATION
TRT: 02:42
SOURCE: UNIFEED
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: 22 JANUARY 2018, MONROVIA, LIBERIA

Shotlist

1. Various shots, people celebrating outside SKD stadium
2. Pan right, inside stadium
3. Pan right, special guests under tent
4. Wide shot, stage
5. Wide shot, military in formation
6. Wide shot, George Weah’s arrival
7. Various shots, Weah and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf during national anthem
8. Wide shot, Weah taking oath
9. Wide shot, crowd celebrating
10. Wide shot, stage
11. Med shot, Weah receiving medal
12. Wide shot, Weah standing next to Johnson Sirleaf
13. SOUNDBITE (English) George Weah, President of Liberia:
“I spent many years of my life in stadiums. But today is a feeling like no other. I am overwhelmed with the crowd and the energy here today, and I guarantee you when we finish there will not be a winner or loser. Today we all wear the jersey of Liberia.”
14. Med shot, Assistant Secretary-General Bintou Keith and Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel Mohamed Chambas
15. SOUNDBITE (English) George Weah, President of Liberia:
“We stood with the United Nations at its founding, when it was just an idea driven by ideas. Then in our darkest days, the UN stood with us. The UN peacekeeping mission has ensured and brokered peace within our borders for more than a decade, and will soon demonstrate their confidence in us by transitioning its task from peacekeeping to programmes of the UN organization, which will continue in key sectors such as education, health, and agriculture. Ending the peacekeeping mission successfully is something which all Liberians and our partners should take great pride.”
16. Wide shot, end of speech

Storyline

George Weah, today (22 Jan) was inaugurated on as the new president of the Republic of Liberia where the United Nations is about to close its peacekeeping mission in two months after 15 years of presence.

The new Liberian president took office in a packed SKD stadium in Monrovia – the capital city of the country.

The former football champion, who succeeded outgoing president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the first pacific democratic transition the country has known over the past 70 years, said “I spent many years of my life in stadiums, but today is a feeling like no other.”

He said “I guarantee you when we finish there will not be a winner or loser. Today we all wear the jersey of Liberia.”

In his inaugural speech, the new Liberian President thanked the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) for its efforts in reestablishing peace and security in a country that has experienced two civil wars spanning over 14 years between 1989 and 2003.

He said “we stood with the United Nations at its founding, when it was just an idea driven by ideas. Then in our darkest days, the UN stood with us,” adding that “the UN peacekeeping mission has ensured and brokered peace within our borders for more than a decade, and will soon demonstrate their confidence in us by transitioning its task from peacekeeping to programmes of the UN organization, which will continue in key sectors such as education, health, and agriculture.”

Leading the UN delegation at the Liberian presidential inauguration, the Special representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohammed Ibn Chambas, and Assistant Secretary General for Peacekeeping Perations Bintou Keita.

After the signature of a peace agreement in August 2003, the Security Council authorized the deployment of a UN peacekeeping mission in Liberia. The first peacekeepers arrived in the country in October of the same year.

After almost 15 years of existence, UNMIL has successfully completed its mandate that encompassed the protection of civilians, supporting the reform of rule of law and justice institutions, the protection of human rights protection and the promotion of sustainable peace through a public information radio run by the peacekeeping mission.

Starting 31 March, UNMIL will be replaced by a UN country team in Liberia.