Former fighters of Liberia’s brutal war have given their battered capital city a vigorous clean up in preparation for next week’s official installation ceremony of Africa’s first democratically elected female president.
The West African country’s transitional government has signed up hundreds of of ex-combatants to spruce up the city.
Armed with brooms, shovels, hoes, rakes, axes and cutlasses, the former soldiers have been clearing the streets of unauthorised kiosks and rubble, for a daily wage of $10.
”This is another way for the government to give a chance to these young people to earn money while throwing behind the years of violence,” said Information Minister William Allen on Friday.
”These people had been transformed to killing machines by warlords and today they are trying to live a positive life,” he said.
The former warriors are upbeat about they have traded their guns for brooms.
”It is good to know that you are doing something positive,” said Junior Blackie, an ex-combatant.
”This is something that all Liberians are appreciating as you can see it. And it makes us to be proud of ourselves, it is also an encouragement for us,” he said.
Monday’s investiture of Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, elected to power in an election run-off on November 14, will be graced by some prominent world and African leaders.
United States First Lady Laura Bush will lead a delegation that includes Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice to inauguration ceremonies in Monrovia on January 16.
Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria, Thabo Mbeki of South Africa and Moammar Gadaffi of Libya are among the Africa leaders attending the function.
Ghana’s President John Kufuor and Ahmed Tejan Kabbah of Sierra Leone are also expected among the dignitaries.
The United States has in the meantime deployed two warships off the coast of Liberia for next week’s inauguration, as ”a demonstration of the strong support the US has for Liberia’s recent elections,” the navy said.
The ceremony is to be presided over by the Supreme Court of Liberia. – AFP
