Cablegate: Monrovia Eac Convened to Address Religious Violence In

VZCZCXYZ0007
OO RUEHWEB

DE RUEHMV #0260 0571500
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O R 261459Z FEB 10
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 0089
INFO RUEHMV/AMEMBASSY MONROVIA

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

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