Liberia’s security sector epitomizes familiar profile of a state emerging from a stretched period of spasmodic political and security crises that left barely functioning state institutions, an economy in shambles, and needy population with an undersized security apparatus.
As per the Economist magazine in 2003, Liberia was projected to be soon the worst place to live on planet earth. The country is however, believed to be recovering for good ever since that time after what have been the troubling years for the country in the two decades of its history. The political process since the first post war elections in 2005 clearly represents a window of prospect for the security sector reform in Liberia.
The government, with continued support from key international partners and the willingness of the public to safeguard the peace has successfully contributed to ending the recurring political role of the armed forces and the entire security sector. Making the sector better equipped to deal with current and future security challenges still remain a task, the situation at this time is no way near to the ideal but majority of its citizens, those who lived nearby the violent areas and experienced the worst, would almost be unanimous that country’s security has improved. The situation of the security currently thought to be as a miracle if compared with the then situation around the years of the civil war.
After fourteen years of a terrible civil conflict, the two years of transitional rule produced a democratic government; that has displayed commitment to the democratic and peaceful future for the country. As shown in history, the governments of the past were deemed by Liberians if not all for supremacy, ones who perpetrated violence to keep the power in their hands. As postulated in Pae’s report (2005), the security forces of the country were assumed to be culpable in some instances. Liberians saw them as the corrupt, undertrained, ethically imbalanced and politically divided forces that are running the country from the motive to loot the country’s resources (Paes, 2005).
Viewing government responsibility from the perspective of the Swedish Defense Research Project-Integrated Missions: A case study of Liberia developed by Cecelia Hull, she argued that both the state and the government of the day are engulfed with huge responsibilities to fulfil in order to jettison the preceding practices of the leaderships of the past. Thus the state is supposed to take a giant leap so as to watch over the masses in a just way, hence the aim of the leader targeted at gaining the trust and cooperation of the people. She argued that the United Nations Mission in Liberia cannot do it all, as such the conglomerate of both government, Civil Society organisations and the citizens efforts were imperative in the new agenda to building a new nation must be relished (Hull, 2008). To this, many commentators believed that the government-citizens partnership has twisted the lost confidence that inform the bases of Liberia’s prolonged watershed.
History of Liberian security and it impact on the regional security
It is complicated as to knowing the precise extent of the destruction that was caused as a result of the 14 years of the civil war in the country. The people of the Liberia suffered much during the reputedly highly rated autocratic rule of proceedings leaderships. After the year 2003, the country posed a picture of almost a post-apocalyptic situation. According to the statistics, more than quarter of million of its people died, leaving behind only three million people, and one million left to wander homeless and in pitiable, worst imaginable human condition since the foundation of a Land considered to be the home of freedom. As it is normative during such an abysmal socio-economic and political condition, for owing the worst imaginable human conditions, millions of its hungry population were left homeless. And that was the time when worst kinds of the human sufferings took place; while torture, abduction, rape became merit making events.
More so, it was estimated that one out of ten children was made forcefully as the child labour; while the human development indicators of all kinds showed worst statistics. The UN Mission in Liberia was the example of its kinds that it eventually became one of the largest peacekeeping missions in whole world(Cordell, et al., 2011).
There were instances thought that it could once again slide back into the quagmire of the past instability; but it successfully resisted going back into ignominious condition. The country went on to elect democratically the first ever female President Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
It is undeniable a fact that one of the reasons of past instability was its tough neighbourhood of the West Africa; which continues to pose problems to its national peace and security. In this regard the world’s first regional security mechanism in the name of ECOMOG was introduced, it introduced as a ceasefire monitoring group of the states belonging to the economic community of the West Africa (Hull, 2008).
The region had been struggling protracted wars and conflicts for years; however, the decades of the 1980s and 1990s leading up all the way to the new millennium was of special note for the entire region. As they beaconed the era of long civil wars that evidently destabilized regional countries like Sierra Leon, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire.
Until the 1979 rice riot and the coup that executed the president Williams R. Tolbert and several members of the elite class of Liberia, the Country was a model of stability in the region until the coup that fetched more division and resentment as the barely tasteful government was now on the hunt for her own people. Liberia suffered the impacts of the first civil war during the December of 1989 supported by many who felt that the need for change was no longer on the waiting list. That was the time when Charles Taylor invaded the country; His bash bore the name of the National Patriotic Front of the Liberia (NPFL), a group managed by few trained embittered members of the Doe’s administration. Civil war of the epic proportion followed after the rebellion of Taylor that was meant to over throw the “oppressive rule” of the President Samuel K. Doe who succeeded President Williams R. Tolbert as a result of an earlier morning coupe on the 12th of April 1980 on a popular call to exterminate corruption and give back the people what rightfully belongs to them. The contrary was seen, the vary team that led the popular coupe was now fragmented while others were being hunted as end to “corruption” was nothing to reference.
The state was militarized and a police state was just a classic example that befitting the state sketch.
The region has gone through numbers of the intra-state conflicts, or some kinds of the new wars high influence by the low level of human security convoyed by imperial leadership. The conflicts were reported on the rise with nearly all the neighbouring countries were all gearing up for democratically established government. The region is deemed to be so susceptible to the conflict that even the countries which have been at the distance from the conflicts are threatened over times from the regional impacts of the conflicts(Nilsson et al., 2005).
Not surprising in this regard was the fact that even relatively stable countries like Ghana, Mali, Nigeria and Senegal suffered eventually from the low intensity of the conflicts. It is presumed that those regions are at the threat of clear and present dangers of the conflicts that can suffer in the times ahead, if not managed diplomatically. These factors inform the reason for a regionally support efforts to mitigate the crisis in avoidance of intensification outside of the borders.
Liberia’s Pre-War Security
Security is an essential part of the well-being and development of any group people as help it to restore confidence and erase the fear of the unknown threat like death, invasion and others vices. Better security in a contemporary context, is not the carrying of sophisticated weaponries, but rather active and wise attendance to issues that pose real threat to the survival of the people. For a very long period in the history of Liberia, it has treated the national security apparatus and all issues regarding national security in general as wholly separate from other economic, social, and political activities. Security concerns were commonly considered the earmarked purview of the executive branch and more explicitly, the head of state (The President). By the end of the 1970s, the deep political and economic crisis has reached an ignitable peak as the entire Country doze with bitterness. With erosion of power, inadequate funding, resource mismanagement, among other reasons, the security apparatuses in the country were rapidly crumbling, and unable to fulfil even basic functions except parading the presidency and few executives. Armed conflicts in the region reported to increase as a result of the rebellions and insurgencies. The state collapse of the Liberia became hastened as result; which in a way became the vehicle for the realignment of rebels of Sierra Leone and forces of President Charles Taylor, now serving his sentence in the United Kingdom for crimes committed in Sierra Leone. The regional conflict was inseparable, their characteristics were crosscutting and state of nature present no or little dissimilarity.
At the expense of Liberia’s vulnerable population, Taylor was imposed as the first post-war “elected President” in a very interesting election that was threatened by the very rebel services. The expansion idea was now set in targeting Sierra Leone, Guinea and Ivory Coast for the purpose of upkeeping control in the region. Taylor activated alliances across his borders that short live. The case of Sierra Leone, Sam Bockarie and the killing by the Liberian forces in the month of the May in 2003 was the testament of the fact that alliances were of temporary natured. Not only is that, but the rebels, belonging to the RUF fighters, number thousands were believed to be threat for Liberia and region as a whole(Hull, 2008).
Another stream of revolt was spawned and Taylor government was now to challenge three different fronts-Liberian United for Reconciliation(LURD) and Development, Movement for Democracy In Liberia (MODEL) and the International Community. The rebels groups were politically weak and thus their opposition to the regime of President Taylor was a failed experience. As the rebellious groups offered no political alternative to the people of the Liberia except the replica of the very bad depravities that engulf Taylor’s administration, their source of military strength was largely from unconventional training of child soldiers and forceful recruitment of vulnerable people. Failure of the political alternative and clear political itinerary eventually became the reason of the division of the scuffle along the ethnic lines. In this connection, the Krahns landed support to the Model rooted mainly in Ivory Coast and Mandingos preferred to support the LURD from neighbouring Guinea. Regional Connection factor was another key push to the transitory success of the two groups. LURD predominantly Mandigo better link and bided for support from the late President of Guinea, Lasana Conte under a ruse that Mandigo otherwise recognized as “Muslims” to many Liberians were being embattled in Liberia. The other side of the device could now attend a tender to the now exile President of Ivory Coast, President Laurent Gbagbo who could better understand the “Krahn” in Liberia catchphrase of being besieged with evidence of the first native President who hailed from the Krahn tribe being killed.
While these impermanent success links highlights appear very thought-provoking, the relationship could not account for a minimum success in view of the lack of political alternatives by the rebel groups themselves, thus they are obvious from the very nature of the rebellions, and committed worst kinds of the atrocities against the civilians.
With the pressure from the International community and the United States of America, including the modification and reinforcement of the United Nations sanction regime against the government, eventually, President Charles Taylor lost power, resulting in the power vacuum in the country emerging a new debate evaluating the promptness of Taylor’s exit with the help of regional power headed by Nigeria.
This give room to a transitional short term leadership headed by the National Transitional Government which successfully conducted the first face of post conflict recovery agenda and usher in an elected President in the Country first war election in 2005.
Liberia’s Security Sector Reform with the Successes and Challenges
In the last two decades, the Security sector of the Liberia was not conventionally composed in the sense of the world. As the security in the past had ethnic links and in fact showed predilection for the ethnic and political allegiance instead of the national loyalty. Due to their supposed tendency of ethnic loyalties, religious devotions, unprofessional display of authority and other human rights violations before and during civil war, the Country cannot afford the continuance of the forces without proper screening to moderate the risk of running a security force totally at war with the citizens for their role played in the crisis.
This amongst many reasons accounted for the disbandment of the entire security structure and a platform for reconstruction was formed.
In the security sector reform (SSR), in the context of the Liberia, there were three categories to deal with as identified. First one is the traditional security actors; which are composed of the armed forces and national police force, second are the bodies that are exploited to oversight; that may include variety of the factors such as legislature, law and justice institutions, civil society coupled with the non-state actors. Non state actors include multinational corporations (MNCs) and Economic, security agreements and cooperation.
While third in the category include the international organizations; such as UN, foreign governments, donor funded missions and private security firms. It was therefore, tracked that the reformation of the first two categories should be pursued at every cost; while the third category needs to be put back in the burner to be sought after meeting the minimum criteria of the first two categories.
Security sector reforms focused largely on the reconstruction of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). The United States of America pledged more than $20 million in order to train an army size of around 2000 troops as an initial start. This was done by the registration and screening processes intended to sparkling the new AFL and prevent the entry of people with disputed records. The reforms of the Army were firstly undertaken follow by the police and other security apparatus.
Dismantling and then taking concerted efforts to rebuild the security services of the country was accomplished with top priority once the 14-year-old conflict ended. The formal security sector reform was seen to be working immediately with the UN mission in Liberia to disarm and demobilize the ex-combatants in 2004. The U.S. government led the reorganization of the police and also the army.
The SSR has been working in close cooperation with the local communities to bring peace and prosperity to the country. Much of the credit goes to the government for having worked in close harmony with the international community for reigning in crime and violence. Though the public opinion towards the police was negative earlier on, yet it has somewhat improved. Much of the credit once again goes to the success that the government has enjoyed in bringing peace to the country. It remains to be seen how much success will further be enjoyed in a country that is prone to crime due to the earlier civil war that raged across for many years. The government is still taking numerous measures to curb the crime rate and restore the confidence of the people.
In meeting some of these challenges, The United Nations Development Program(UNDP) sponsored program aims at ensuring that justice and security policies and systems are in place to deliver effective and timely services to citizens in line with Liberia’s international and national obligations.
With the Agenda for Transformation (AfT), the goal of the Government is not only to further growth, but to also ensure that it can be sustained and ultimately lead to a more inclusive society. Thus, the strategy encompasses economic growth but also inclusion, equity, justice, peace, reconciliation, human development and good governance. This will include the following;
The government was under obligation to continue to address the key sources of conflict and insecurity, protecting the citizens of Liberia from violence and crime; delivering justice and upholding the rule of law; reconciling all Liberian people and together building a more peaceful and more secured nation. Protect the rights and dignity of all Liberians through a strengthened, credible and independent Judiciary that delivers transparent and timely justice in the courts.
This program seeks to support the Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) to reform and strengthen security and justice institutions including the
Liberia National Police (LNP), Bureau for Immigration and Naturalization (BIN) and Bureau for Corrections and Rehabilitation (BCR) to provide effective services to Liberians.
Impact of the human security on national security
There is no doubt that security of the people could be translated into national security. As a result of two civil wars; – one taking place from 1989 to 1996 and second place from 1999 to 2003, in Liberia. In this regard the financial and diplomatic support from International partners and friendly governments was phenomenal in the hour of the Country human tragedy.
The American State department’s bureau of Population provided food, shelter, and water and resolved the issues of the health care when needed by the vast numbers of the Liberian refugees and internally displaced. It was not just the people who became internally displaced, help by the non-governmental organization, rather, those who took shelter in neighbouring countries were also attended by human rights organizations. United Nations was able to provide schools support to maintain a sound generation even in the heat of the war.
Liberia is yet to reach a recovery ultimate, but considerable level could be seen with the statistics of school enrolment continue to grow, gender base education swells and maximum level of infrastructure development to the standard of post conflict reconstruction dimension can be grasped. New legislations harshly criminalizing sexual and gender base violence, institution of compulsory primary education, establishment of special prosecutorial capacities for sexual violence cases and the creation of different Units under the ministry of gender monitoring and collecting data for effective action as so required are huge enough to signal human security development.
Political Leadership’s Impact on National Security
The United Nations peacekeeping mission had been serving the country for at last over 12 years; however, the years before was hallmark in the history of the country as the country geared up to take into reigns of its security(Cordell, et al., 2011). As a consequence many Liberians and some international observers are doubtful that Political Leadership could return to business as usual where the security of the state answer to the Presidency and few elites.
Yet, the government of Liberia has reassured the people that United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) cannot remain in the country indefinitely, therefore, the politics of the country has to play its due role in bringing the country to the right course. The government further said that the role of politicians and the government of the day is to ensure the continued sustainability of the peace with support from the citizenry in the absence of the UNMIL.
The government is working in close cooperation with different partners to ensure the transition in the direction is attain in the Economic Stabilization and Recovery Plan (ESTP).In this regard the government is doing all so as to increase the mobilization of the resources of the country, coupled with the regional strategy in what has been known as one of volatile region of the world. Again, this is done with the outdoing regime of the UNMIL that is believed to possess the right skills and methods.
Liberia’s transitional challenges
It can be concluded that the drawdown of the UNMIL has been followed by the relative peaceful time in Liberia (The Huffington Post, 2015). In this way, by the end of the September 2015, the forces of the numbers of the military was left around 3,590 from what they were more than 15000 UN peacekeepers. The Police force was around 1500 forces only. It is thus, advisable that what government has committed should be followed with utmost discipline until the remaining UN peacekeepers are about to leave. The government through the President of the country – Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has exhibited the willingness to fully withstand the plans of the transitions and she has made sure that the security issues are incorporated in the nation’s recovery top bracket plan.
More than anything else, the support of the community is of critical importance to the transition plan of the security. In view of the transitional phase that the country is required to undergo, it is vital that some degree of the involvement, cooperation, consultation of the community be petitioned. It is believed by many commentators that Liberians are resolved in partnering with state to keep a peaceful Country as expressed in the community effort that short live Ebola virus in a country whose health sector was completely overwhelmed. This could be an effective model after UNMIL draw down. Holes left with UNMIL draw down are enormous, yet the growing consensus amongst the people point to few challenges: Terrorists’ attacks in the Region, Citizens security, Liberia’s first crucial transitional elections 2017 and Religious proposal (Christian Muslim state debate)
Regional Security against terrorist attacks
The topmost concern of Liberians and other observers is if the country’s law enforcing authorities and agencies are ready to take the charge completely after the June
30th draw down announced by the United Nations. The terror threats of the Boko Haram have been terrorizing innocent civilians of the region.
Liberia is found within the gloomy spot terrorists threat, evidence of the fact that smaller countries that possess little man power and lack funding for the armed authorities would face tougher task than bigger ones; and that Liberia is one such country of the West Africa. The Country has seen the worst times of its history; however, peaceful signs are numerous as the country is getting ready to supplant UN peace keeping mission in the wake of its draw down. Just recently the Defense Minister Brownie J. Samukai of the Liberia, a man who is considered the longest serving Defense Minister in the region condemned Boko Haram’s activities of the insurgency in Nigeria and Ivory Coast, and went on to reiterate that his country stands shoulder to shoulder with neighbouring countries in fighting terrorism (France 24, 2015). Moreover, the President on her trips to Brussels showed resilience on fighting against Ebola and the likes of the Boko Haram (France 24, 2015).
Terrorism has been a growing threat to the entire region with not much insight on the motivation. Obviously there are several presume causes of the growing terrorism amongst which Poverty, unemployment, Injustice, Corruption, poor education. The government with her counterparts has different policy programs to address the root causes of this growing threat to save the region and our next generation. The government has launched a transformation program that seeks to address youth empowerment, employment, Agricultural development, community health sustainability etc.
One could believe that the government of Liberia has been sincere in its efforts to protect the lives and property of the citizens. Since the rise of militancy, the government with coordination from regional governments has attempted so many initiatives including effective intelligence and counter intelligence information sharing. Other procedures and operations including Martime patrol are on the increase with maximum results judging from different target analysis and intelligence reports.
Citizen security
Ever since the peace accords came into existence in 2003, steady progress has been ensured. Institutions are being rebuilt and much is being accomplished to undo the damage brought about by the prolonged civil war. Though the GDP growth was termed as being flat by the international community in 2014, yet the government is taking efforts aimed at boosting the return of investors and technical experts. This way it hopes to restart the development programs. The scars from the brutal civil war remain evident as most of the 75% of the population which happens to be under the age of 35, remains traumatized. With majority of the Liberians reported to be living on an earning of less than U.S. $ 1.5 a day, the government is boosting its initiatives to provide the very best to the people. It is also attempting to enhance the access of the public to education, healthcare and others services which at the time is very limited (Paes, 2005). There are instances and deportment from the citizens that present a new day in the Country history which is a good start for citizens’ security in line with global call to unfasten security of the people to arms carrying.
Christian Muslim state debate
In can be recall that the Country war-battle capital was engulfed with Christian-Muslim riots in the late part of 2004 immediately after the Country worst violence crisis came to an end. Mosques, Churches and other homes were burnt down while youths took to the street with machetes and Kalashnikaove rifles in defense of either side of their identity. The sea side city nearly return to its crumbling days, but the situation came to an end with UNMIL reacting by using maximum force. A Pastor whose church was burnt down to powder was hear say “The lord was on our side, I don’t know what would have happen to us tonight “ Benjamin Hajan said. This should have served the purpose of experience for the combustible nature of the religious makeup of the Country.
In recent time, both the religious communities have been at the loggerheads over the Christianity supposedly going to be the state religion of the Liberia. Just recently the constitutional amendment has been proposed calling for the “reinstatement of Christianity” as the country’s state religion. The proposal evidently has been accepted by majority. Muslim community has been perturbed at these developments.
In this regard the meetings of the stakeholders – such as those of the members of the civil society, leaders of the religious congregations and citizens – have been called on so as to take their view point on the matter of the proposed amendment of the country’s 1986 constitution. The nationwide debate has started off by soliciting the view point of the citizenry regarding the articles and clauses that are potentially going to be changed.
Jallah – the well-known figure of the Christians went on to comment that Constitution Review Committee (CRC) was given mandate to know about what the majority of the Liberians want to see in the constitutions (Anadolu Agency, 2016). Therefore, it is not about the Muslims and Christians, but about the majority of the Liberians who want to see the country as the Christian state.
At this, Muslim protestors took on the streets holding placards and chanting for the country to uphold its secular tradition. One of the protestor Hajah Swaray, went on to assert that her group wanted the country to maintain its secular tradition (Anadolu Agency, 2016). Some of placards contended that the country does not belong to anyone group; and thus it for everyone.
As per the understanding, the citizens are entitled by the government to peace and security, yet this is a far away cry as many face daily threats not only to their lives, but also to their beliefs, prestige and financial status. This is not to suggest in any way that the government is shrinking from its resolve to provide equal rights to the people, but this is because the last decade has been a witness to the impact that crime and violence can have on the country. However, despite the massive challenges, the government has been firm in its resolve to provide peace and security to the people (Anadolu Agency, 2016).
There have been extensive initiatives by the government to reform and enhance the security sector and this has led to an improvement in the lives of the people through the religious community. These initiatives that started after the end of the war have been largely successful on account of the firm commitment of the government and religious leaders role in building the people minds against obstructions, even though much more needs to be done (Paes, 2005). In this regard, both communities have been unanimous of the rights and duties of the state and of the citizens and vice-versa.
First Crucial Transitional Elections 2017
Liberia’s first transitional elections scheduled for 2017 nominates serious security challenges verse transitional opportunities. Liberia with the supervision of UNMIL has had two uninterrupted elections that set the foundation for the country democratic fulfilment. Internal Electoral institutions and International representations didn’t point to any grave-yard loopholes except unproven claims of frauds, complicated political bargaining, insufficient electoral coverage due to post-war topographies like imperfect roads connection, semi-informed voting population etc. Yet, the test of running completely hardnosed election is another apprehension triggering the minds of every well intentioned party craving to experience a far-reaching round of post conflict autonomous attainment void of external security supervision.
The former foreign minister Augustine Ngafuan recounted in his perspective that Liberia is headed for a crucial task given the overall importance of the elections that could crown Liberia as a democratic state by all measurement. He asserted that it is going to be the alignments and re-alignments of the positive forces. The Foreign Minister According to Africanleadership.co.uk (2016), the FM – Ngafuan said as the year of the 2017 approaches; he expects the merger and collaboration of the positive political forces of the country aligning with themselves despite political strife. It is thus a challenge for responsible politicians to come to terms, in spite of the social tribal, political and economic differences that are prevalent within Liberian society (Africanleadership.co.uk, 2016). As the election approaches, it is not clear how many alignments of positive forces are reconvened to jealously protect what is meant to quantify the Country post-war achievement.
“The government needs to be strategic, deliberate and realistic in the quality of investment in the security and defense sector as UNMIL leaves” Said minister Brownie Samukai, Minister of National defense while addressing the 59th Armed Forces Day Congregation. In addition, the foreign minister Her excellency Marjon V. Kamara, said she is confident that Liberia can provide security and maintain peace after UNMIL departure. She propose that in order to restore confidence in the general public, we must use every means available to communicate with the public that the national security apparatus is ready the serve the people. The leadership of Liberia has with commitment, promised a successful conduct of the elections ahead, however, citizens grouping like the “Campaigners For Change headed by Liberia’s foremost Civil
Society Activist Vandela Patricks and other international observers kept calling for more effort to bridge gap created by UNMIL departure.
Pool of recommendations kept splashing amongst which the Economic Community of West Africa special representative Richard W. Stephens emphasized the Training and capacities building for Security personnel, he argues that Security training should involve risk analysis and mapping of potential conflict areas that are crime prone and especially, where there are large unemployed youths should be coded as high risk and this should inform the deployment of maximum-Security personnel, as in the case may be, with necessary equipment for controlling mob violence. This is however, a good strategy that could inform an effective functioning of a small but highly active security force in the coming elections.
In conclusion, It is better to note that there are many security challenges face Liberia like any post-conflict situation. However, viewing from a puddle of Post conflicts countries: Afghanistan, Central African Republic, Iraq, Libya, Liberia presents successful model for total recovery and independent security triumph. This means that there are prospects in the role of our national security exercise impending when buttressed properly with the required finance and manpower trainings. As postulated in local newspapers pages, Satisfying that security space in the backdrop of a looming presidential and legislative elections in 2017 could not only offer a key test for Liberia but more importantly, could also trigger the U.S. into a familiar role in preparing the army or if necessary, possibly send in troops; a move that could demonstrate to how Liberia solutions its probable post-UNMIL security jam.
While these speculations remain imperative, the government in meeting up with gaps that face the entire security sector of the Country, it is clear that there has to be improved communication between the judiciary, Liberia National police and other key security structures; something that largely accounted for the lack of coordination in the past. Key on the list is linking the National Police to the court system. So far the failure of the law and order has been duly associated with the failure of the court system. To make LNP (Liberia’s National Police) more effective, it should be kept in mind that there is a need for enough corporation and communication between the two. Strengths of the police should be increased, as every citizen of the country possesses innate right to the life. Thus his life should be protected, beside the right to liberty and property. Secondly, Middle management of the police should be increased in size, as it is observed that so far the LNP has been lacking in the officers in the middle who are supposed to connect the officers down at the bottom with the higher up, for the facilitation of the smooth operations.
The government should ensure that there are enough numbers of the police that serve the citizens of the country in times of the emergency. Thus, the government ought to Station Emergency Response Units (ERUs) and Police Support Units (PSUs), can be strengthened to enhance alongside the AFL effective boarders control.
Improve maritime security as the threat of new crimes resulting from the less lucrative business associated with piracy in the Gulf of Guinea becomes eminent. It is also important to note that many countries across African including south Africa and Uganda have succeeded in using community policing to bond up the gaps to where national security presence is not felt. Liberia can do the same and create a community-centered police culture that can promptly aid national police in keeping law and order. Yes! Together, we can make it.
Emmanuel David Togba, [email protected], Contributing Writer