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| Thomas Yaya Nimely: Warlord/Rebel Leader, Movement For Democracy Liberia |
The Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) was a rebel group in Liberia that became active in March 2003, launching attacks from Ivory Coast. MODEL was based on the Force Spéciale pour la Libération du Monde Africain (LIMA) militia formed in September 2002 to help Laurent Gbagbo's government against insurgents backed by Liberia's president Charles Taylor. After fighting off the imminent threat, parts of LIMA crossed the border to Liberia to continue the war there.
The Liberian Cival War resumed in 1999 as challenges to his rule were mounted by Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD), led by Sekou Conneh, which made an incursion from Guinea, and, later by the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), led by Thomas Nimely-Yaya, which made an incursion from Cote D'Ivoire.
In early 2003 a dissident movement known as the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) surfaced in the south-eastern region of Liberia. MODEL was described by one of the LURD leaders, Joe Willie, in an interview on 9 April 2003 with the BBC radio ''as an integrated force...'' of LURD. According to reports by local newspapers, MODEL appears to be the result of the breaking apart of LURD. However, this new group is reported to have gained ground in the south-eastern counties, namely, Grand Gedeh, Sinoe and Grand Kru.
Its main target seemed to be the port of Buchanan in Grand Bassa County, from where the Government of Liberia is exporting the country's major produce, timber. On 27 April 2003, fighters belonging to MODEL engaged in a major battle to take the town of Greenville, the main port of south-eastern Liberia, where several logging companies have based their operations. The rebels also attacked government troops on the road between the towns of Tappita and Gborlor-Diallah close to the Ivorian border.
Fighting was said to be ongoing around Greenville as government troops attempt to recapture the strategic town. Several logging companies have closed down their operations in Sinoe County as a result of the fighting, while ships were diverted from Greenville port to the port of Monrovia.
On August 18, 2003, the Government Of The Republic Of Liberia, The Liberians United For Reconciliation And Democracy (LURD), The Movement For Democracy In Liberia (MODEL) And The Political Parties, met in Akosombo and Accra, Ghana, from 4 June, 2003 to 18th August 2003, to seek a negotiated settlement of the crisis in Liberia, within the framework of the ECOWAS Peace Process for Liberia.
The armed conflict between the present Government of Liberia (GOL), the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) was ended with immediate effect. Accordingly, all the Parties to the Ceasefire Agreement shall ensure that the ceasefire established at 0001 hours on 18th June, 2003, results in the observation of a total and permanent cessation of hostilities forthwith.
The Armed Forces of Liberia would be restructured and will have a new command structure. The forces may be drawn from the ranks of the present GOL forces, the LURD and the MODEL, as well as from civilians with appropriate background and experience. The Parties requested that ECOWAS, the UN, AU, and the ICGL provide advisory staff, equipment, logistics and experienced trainers for the security reform effort. The Parties also requested that the United States of America play a lead role in organising this restructuring program. |
