Francis Carbah's name figures on the May 1996 Cabinet list of a transitional administration consisting of "supporters of the NPFL [National Patriotic Liberation Front], ULIMO-K [United Movement of Liberia for Democracy-Kromah faction], ULIMO-J[United Movement of Liberia for Democracy-Johnson faction], the LPC [Liberia Peace Council], the Central Revolutionary Committee (CRC), the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and the Lofa Defence Force (LDF)" (Europa World Year Book 1996 1996, 1978). According to this source, Carbah represented the Liberia Peace Council (LPC), and occupied the post of Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs in the transitional government of 1996 (ibid.).

The Political Handbook of the World 1999 states that the LPC was organised in 1993 as a "largely Krahn" group that had many clashes with the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) of Charles Taylor (1999, 577). It adds that "in January 1996 the LPC was cited by observers as the only faction to have complied with the disarmament provision of the August 1995 peace accord" (The Political Handbook of the World 1999, 1999, 577).

Following a summit in Abuja, Nigeria, organised by the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), "the armed factions (the NPFL, ULIMO-K, the LPC, the CRC, the LDF, ULIMO?J and the AFL) finally signed a compromise agreement providing for the installation of a reconstituted Council of State, which was to remain in power, pending elections, for one year" (The Europa World Year Book 2002 2002, 2492).

Other sources consulted by the Research Directorate point out that Carbah later became Minister of Transport in the government of President Charles Taylor (Europa World Year Book 2001 2001, 2478; PANA 25 Apr. 2001; United Nations 4 Dec. 2002; The News 14 Aug. 2002; ibid. 4 Feb. 2002). Before his appointment by President Taylor as Minister of Transport, Carbah reportedly occupied the post of Presidential Advisor on Economic Affairs (AFP 3 Mar. 2000). However, Star Radio (Monrovia) states that Carbah also assumed the post of Minister of Planning (24 July 1998).

No information indicating what specific duties and roles Carbah had while occupying these positions could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.

The News states that former Minister of Transport Francis Carbah was one of the "exiled politicians" invited to attend a reconciliation conference scheduled to take place in Liberia in late August 2002 (14 Aug. 2002). Quoting "undisclosed sources close to the Transport Ministry," The News reports that "Minister Carbah 'quietly' resigned his position and left the country ... for the United States with his family," and was replaced by former Information Minister Joe W. Mulbah (4 Feb. 2002).

As former minister in the government of President Taylor, Carbah was affected by the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1343 (2001), paragraph 7(a), appealing to "all States" to "take the necessary measures to prevent the entry into or transit through their territories of senior members of the Government of Liberia and its armed forces and their spouses and any other individuals providing financial and military support to armed rebel groups in countries neighbouring Liberia, in particular the RUF" [Revolutionary United Front] (United Nations 7 Mar. 2001). This resolution was extended by paragraph 5 of Resolution 1408 (2002) adopted by the Security Council at its 4526th meeting, on 6 May 2002 (ibid. May 2002).

Consequently Carbah's name appears on the list issued by the United Nations Security Council in December 2002 for the purposes of Resolution 1408 (2002) (ibid. 4 Dec. 2002).

Nonetheless, in June 2002, Carbah was reportedly one of the members of the technical committee that coordinated "the Liberian Leadership Conference (LLC)" which took place in Bethesda, Maryland, on 28 and 29 June 2002

(29 June 2002).

This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.

Africa News. 29 June 2002. "Group Seeks End to Security and Political Crises" (NEXIS)

Agence France Presse (AFP). 3 March 2000. "Liberian President Charles Taylor Has Sacked Transport MinisterBrahima Kabbah for 'administrative resons'." (NEXIS)

The Europa World Year Book 2002. 2002. 43th ed. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications.

The Europa World Year Book 2001. 2001. 42nd ed. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications.

The Europa World Year Book 1996. 1996. 37th ed. Vol. 2. London: Europa Publications.

The News. 14 August 2002. "Big Names Invited for Reconciliation ... Will Everyone Show-Up? (Africa News/NEXIS)

_____. 4 February 2002. "Liberia: Transport Minister 'Resigns." (Africa News/NEXIS)

Pan African News Agency (PANA). 25 April 2001. "Liberia: Taylor Reportedly Names Committee to Proble Sports Minister's Death." (BBC Monitoring 25 Apr. 2001/NEXIS)

The Political Handbook of the World 1999. 1999. Edited by Arthur S. Banks and Thomas C. Muller. Binghamton, New York: CSA Publications.

Star Radio (Monrovia). 24 July 1998. "Liberia: Liberian Daily News Bulletin." (Africa News/NEXIS)

United Nations. 4 December 2002. Press Release SC/7570/Rev.1. "Security Council Committee Concerning Liberia Reissues List. " http://www.un.org/Press/news//docs/2002/sc7570r1.doc.htm [Accessed 26 May 2003]

_____. 6 May 2002. Security Council "Resolution 1408 (2002)." http://www.unhcr.ch/ [Accessed 28 May 2003]

_____. 7 March 2001. Security Council. "Resolution 1343 (2001)."http://www.un.org/Docs/sc/committees/Liberia2/1343.e.pdf [Accessed 28 May 2002]

Africa Confidential

Africa Research Bulletin: Political, Social and Cultural Series

Amnesty International

Country Reports 1999-2002

Human Rights Watch (HRW)

IRB Databases

LEXIS/NEXIS

Internet sources, including:

Africa Online

AllAfrica.com

BBC Africa

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