Alja Troubled Over Reports Of Arms Shipment Confiscation In Liberia

PRESS RELEASE
January 12, 2023

ALJA TROUBLED OVER REPORTS OF ARMS SHIPMENT CONFISCATION IN LIBERIA

We at the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA), are concerned by recent news reports emanating from Liberia regarding the joint security and the Liberia National Police (LNP) confiscation of a consignment of deadly weapons and ammunition at the National Port Authority (NPA) in Monrovia.

On January 6, 2023. the LNP reportedly confiscated 15 deadly weapons including AK-47s and long rifles in a container shipped to Liberia, West Africa, by a US based Liberian.

Addressing a news conference in Monrovia, the LNP’s Inspector General, Patrick Sudue, displayed a number of military grade arms and ammunition which he said were discovered in several boxes loaded onto a container and shipped through the Freeport of Monrovia where they were confiscated.

Given Liberia’s ugly past, mainly the 14 years civil wars that devasted the lives of tens of thousands of people, properties, and caused the displacement of thousands of people internally and externally, it is traumatizing for Liberians to be confronted with such news. Hence, we consider the reports of the discovery of such amount of arms and ammunition, disturbing and appalling.

Moreover, with barely ten months to the country’s 2023 Presidential and General elections, Liberians cannot afford any crisis that will distract the country from this all-important goal of building upon the democratic gains made since the cessation of the civil crisis.

Therefore, while we commend the security forces for this seizure, we recognize the skepticism with which many Liberians have received this report, given the Joint security forces checkered history and the perception that it operates as a partisan security apparatus.

It is in this light that We are urging Inspector General Sudue and the security apparatus to ensure that the investigation is conducted in a professional and transparent manner and the rights of all suspects are fully protected.

ALJA is a conglomeration of current and retired Liberian journalists residing in the Americas. It is a 501c (3) non-profit organization. The Association was founded in 1998 with the objectives of advancing press freedom through media capacity building, and the fostering of good governance in Liberia through media advocacy

Signed: _________________

Akai Akasu Awuletey Glidden
National Secretary General
Cell: 484-364-0973

Approved: ___________________
Joe Mason
National President
Cell: 763-639-9328