MONROVIA, Montserrado – Ahead of today’s Armed Forces Day celebrations, the Ministry of National Defense has assured the preparedness of the Armed Forces of Liberia to take over security following the departure of the United Nations Mission in Liberia.

Deputy Minister for Public Affairs David Dahn said the army was ready to take on the responsibility of protecting the country’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity as its primary objective.

“The army has a constitutional mandate, and we are not taking it lightly; we have been prepared from the day we took on as a military,” he added.

Dahn refused to be specific on the numerical strength of the new army. However, he disclosed that following the completion of training for the first 2,000 soldiers, more than 500 additional soldiers have been added.

Although he also refused to disclose the type of military equipment the Defense Ministry had acquired, Dahn said the AFL was robust and equipped and has professionally trained manpower waiting to play a bigger role in the country’s security sector.

He also said the confidence in the country’s security extended to Liberia’s sea borders.

“The National Coast Guard has acquired sophisticated boats and other equipment,” he said.

Dahn called on citizens to work with the army to build trust and confidence in its operations for maintaining peace and stability.

“Security is collective, so we hope that the civilians and everybody will see the security as a shared responsibility,” he said.

Speaking during an interview on Tuesday ahead of this year’s Armed Forces Day, Dahn said Liberians were capable of maintaining the country’s peace and security in the wake of UNMIL drawdown if they collaborated with the army.

The government has since announced that UNMIL will complete the drawdown of its security mission from the country by June 30 this year.

Despite concerns by citizens about Liberia’s readiness to continue without UNMIL, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf said during her state of the nation address that “Liberia is safe and secure.”

Sirleaf said, with the aid of international partners, her government had improved standards and trained qualified citizens for a new professional army that will secure peace, protect the geographic integrity of the country, and provide security service through peacekeeping duties abroad.

“I assure all of our citizens that we have been preparing for this transition by building a new professional army and by training our security forces,” Sirleaf pledged. “We admit that resources for this purpose have been limited. Nevertheless, the process is moving slowly and smoothly. We are confident that our security forces will meet the challenge of protecting our nation and our people when UNMIL leaves.”

She added that the Liberia National Police and the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization have accelerated training programs and have also deployed officers along the border counties.

She, however, called for the support of citizens in maintaining peace and security.

“But make no mistake: National security is by no means the exclusive domain of the Government and its formal security agencies.  It is a collective responsibility which involves all citizens,” she added.

Speaking recently during the graduation of additional 154 soldiers, the Chief of Staff of the Army, Brigadier General Daniel Ziankahn said the national army is up to the task to take over security from UNMIL.

At the recent graduation of the new soldiers, Deputy Minister for Operation of Defense Jerome Larbalee said the AFL is ready and capable of supporting law enforcement.

With regards to the police, Justice Minister Benedict Sannoh and Police Inspector General Chris Massaquoi in a press briefing late last year assured Liberians that security would remain stable after UNMIL draws down.

Sannoh and Massaquoi disclosed that the deployment of police in the counties were ongoing, especially in counties where UNMIL had already withdrawn from.

Each year, February 11 is celebrated as Armed Forces Day. The day was set aside by an act of the legislature making it a national holiday to be observed throughout the country.

According to the Ministry of National Defense, officers of the AFL began commemorating the day with series of activities during the week, including symposiums and community service initiatives. The celebrations are expected to climax with a series of indoor and outdoor activities including a keynote speech by the Foreign Minister Designate Marjon Kamara.

Featured photo by Rick Scavetta/U.S. Army