Diamond mining relaunched 1 May after 6-year UN ban lifted in April. Major donors, including IMF, threatened to withdraw support if Financial Autonomy Act passed by legislature to grant the House and Senate right to administer own budget is made law.

Member of opposition Liberian Action Party Alex Tyler elected speaker of House 5 April. Head of National Commission on Disarmament, Demobilization, Rehabilitation and Reintegration (NCDDRR) appealed for $18 million for remaining 23,000 ex-combatants not included in donor-funded programs. President Johnson Sirleaf issued executive order 12 April transferring full responsibilities from UNDP to NCDDRR. Government announced plan 17 April to train Quick Reaction Unit to assume duty upon UNMIL’s departure in response to public riots. UNSC lifted 6-year-old diamond ban, lauded country for meeting demands of Kimberley Process 27 April. Government signed military agreement with U.S. 18 April.

Former Chairman of transitional government Gyude Bryant, on charges of corruption, submitted himself to High Court 13 March, but was released after paying 3 million euro “bond”. Supreme Court suspended trial procedure to examine Bryant’s claim to immunity from prosecution for period of chairmanship. UN Special Representative Alan Doss reported to UNSC political situation remained “quite stable”, but serious security challenges, including unstable neighbours, require attention. UNSC extended UNMIL until 30 September 2007, but requested UNSG Ban Ki-moon present “drawdown plan” by mid August.

House speaker Edwin Snowe, reinstated after 18 January impeachment, resigned 15 February following boycott of his sessions by majority of House. Demonstration by former members of Armed Forces of Liberia protesting non-payment of salary arrears blocked traffic 8 February. Chief Justice issued statement calling on international and national NGOs to stop training paralegals while justice system seriously lacks qualified personnel. Truth and Reconciliation Commission indefinitely postponed hearings due to lack of sufficient funding and time to prepare. U.S., Germany and others agreed to cancel approx. 20% of total external debt.

President Johnson-Sirleaf rejected domestic trial for former president Charles Taylor given his prosecution by Sierra Leone Special Court. Taylor ally and House speaker Edwin Snowe received no-confidence vote 18 January. Investigation into former transitional government chairman Gyude Bryant on allegations of corruption started 22 January. Truth and Reconciliation Commission formally started taking statements 16 January concerning abuses committed during 14-year civil war.

UNSG Annan report cited serious flaws in police deployment and criminal justice system but welcomed progress in consolidating peace, promoting national reconciliation and stimulating economic recovery. Charles Taylor Jr, son of former President Taylor, indicted by U.S. Federal Grand Jury 6 December on charges of torture and conspiracy to torture, allegedly committed while head of repressive Anti-Terrorist Unit.

Reforms inched forward. Judicial reform process initiated by UNMIL and justice ministry faced new problems over salary payments for UNMIL-hired lawyers. Security sector reform criticised as “deactivated” security personnel demanded additional benefits including salary arrears and insurance.

Defence Minister Brownie Samukai called for international assistance in apprehending Charles Taylor’s former chief of staff, Benjamin Yeaten, wanted for alleged plots to assassinate current government officials and destabilise country. UN report released 18 October said courts and police had failed to prosecute widespread sexual abuse against women and children. Liberia’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission began collecting testimony 3 October, with formal hearings set for January 2007.

Mounting lawlessness and roving gangs threatened security in Monrovia. UN Security Council extended UNMIL mandate to 31 March 2007. UNSG Annan lauded “tangible progress” in government reform and fight against corruption but pointed to major challenges in reconstruction efforts. Police officials reported force consists of only 1,600 unarmed officers; government encouraged community justice groups to help combat banditry. UN-backed Special Court for Sierra Leone set tentative April 2007 date for trial of former President Taylor.

Reconstruction progress continued as UN-backed government forces repossessed lawless Guthrie Rubber Plantation from 500 former LURD rebels, ending 3-year illegal tapping scheme. President Sirleaf signed 2006/07 budget into law 29 August, granting pay rise for civil servants, and launched program to bring 15,000 child labourers back to school.