Monrovia – Ambassador Babatunde O. Ajisomo, the former ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia, has cautioned the men and women of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) to remain a force for good as the country gears toward its general and presidential elections next year.
Ambassador Ajisomo made the assertion when he served as the 65th Armed Forces Day keynote speaker on February 11, 2022 at the Barclay Training Center.
“This Year 2022 precedes 2023, which will be critical in terms of preparation for Liberia’s 2023 General Elections. Electoral violence and malpractices have been identified as the bane of democracy in Africa. Election has become a major trigger or driver of unrest and political instability, including the toppling of elected governments through military coups,” Ambassador Ajisomo said.
He added: “Let me at this juncture command the Armed Forces of Liberia for being apolitical in previous elections, and I wish to encourage them to sustain this neutrality. The military and other security forces must continue to be extremely apolitical in order to create a conducive environment for a transparent electoral process.”
The Armed Forces Day historically came into existence by legislation on February 11, 1957, with the sole intent of paying homage to the men and women of the Armed Forces of Liberia who are making tireless sacrifices to maintain the security of Liberia, and those who have sacrificed their lives in line of their duties for their Country and its people.
This year’s February 11, the Armed Forces of Liberia marked its 65th Armed Forces Day and 114 years of existence, since 1908.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ambassador Ajisomo said the AFL and other security agencies need to use the 2022 year as a training year to train and prepare adequately for the 2023 General Elections.
“Members of the Armed Forces must be familiar with dos and don’ts of rules of engagement during elections, and consolidate on their cooperation with the Liberia National Police, Liberia Immigration Service, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency, Liberia National Fire Service, the National Security Agency and other security agencies in Liberia,” he said.
The former ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia also calls on the Government to provide the Armed Forces and other security agencies with the required support for optimum performance.
“This will involve provision of the enabling policy framework, training, logistics and finance,” Ambassador Ajisomo said.
AFL Will Remain Apolitical
Also, the Minister of National Defense Major General Daniel Dee Ziankahn, JR. (RTD.) at event was quick to disclose that as the country prepares for general election next year, the AFL prepares to support civil authority and other security organizations to ensure an uninterrupted political process.
“Few months down the road, we will be entering our political season, a period that requires all Liberians to demonstrate their constitutional rights to affiliate, campaign and vote for a person or party of their choice. Let me make it clear that the Armed Forces of Liberia remains Apolitical,” Minister Ziankahn said.
He added: “Our military facilities will not be a place for political gatherings and individuals or vehicles entering our facilities will not be permitted to display political paraphernalia; we call on all Liberian politicians to demonstrate love and respect for the Liberian military by abiding by these rules as set forth by the Chief of Staff and the high command of the AFL.”
President Weah Promises to Fully Support the AFL
Adding up, President George Weah giving a special statement stressed that his government is fully aware of the numerous challenges currently facing the military, much of which he says negatively impacts morale among soldiers, as well as the recruitment and force development of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
“We have begun the renovation of military barracks around the country, as a way of providing a remedy to congestion within the facilities currently in use,” the Liberian President said.
According to President Weah, Liberia’s security remains of paramount concern to his government, and as a result, the government has taken steps to ensure that the force capacity of the Armed Forces of Liberia is commensurate with the nation’s current and perceived threats, as well as their international obligation to maintain world peace.
“In this regard, we have taken the necessary steps to ensure that the Liberian troops serving in the UN Mission in Mali have all the needed logistics and weaponry as required to enable them to effectively carry out their responsibilities in that theater.,” he said.
As a consequence of this, our government continues to receive resounding acclamations and commendations of the professionalism, dedication, commitment, and valor of the Liberian contingent deployed in the Minusma mission in Mali.
“In order to continue along this positive trajectory, as Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia, I have ordered that 1,000 additional soldiers be recruited into the Liberian Armed Forces in the ensuing year.”
Recruitment for the first batch of 350 personnel has already started in and around the country and will continue subsequently based on the government fiscal space, President Weah says.
“My Government has also begun taking the requisite actions to remedy the issue of troop mobility in the military. Our soldiers must have the capacity to respond when the need arises, regardless of which part of Liberia requires their intervention. In this regard, the Government has made available twenty (20) off-road vehicles to the Armed Forces of Liberia for both military operations and administrative use,” he added.