LIBERIA: PROTESTS, RESIGNATION AND ALLEDGED BURGLARY OF IMMIGRATION’S ARSENAL, DISTURBING SIGNALS

On February 12, 2024, the day set aside for the celebration of the Armed Forces Day, the Minister of Defense of Liberia, and Brigadier General Prince C. JOHNSON, sent his resignation as Minister to the Commander In Chief President Joseph Boakai.

The Minister of Defense thus succumbed to days of protests staged by wives of the soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia.

The newly elected Senator of Bomi, Amara Konneh, described General Johnson as a gentleman who put his country first at a crucial moment when he refused to bow to pressure to get the army involved in the just-ended elections.

“Not many Liberians are aware of how close we came to that.” The new Senator said on his Facebook page on February 15, 2024.

Prior to the protests that lead to the resignation of General Johnson, this paper received an information that on February 8, 2024, the arsenal of the Liberia Immigration Service was burglarized and some arms and ammunitions were taken away.

Until now, the investigations announced to throw light on the February 12 demonstration is yet to give its report.

While waiting for this report, the former lord mayor of the city of Monrovia, Jefferson KOIJEE, has menaced to undertake an action that will prevent the President from leaving his residence to go to work.

Something the population is beginning to see as troubling signs for the peaceful atmosphere currently prevailing in the country for tens of years now.

“Frankly speaking, this is worrisome because with all these things going on, we have not heard nor seen any reaction or insurance given by the security apparatus yet. Though we may not know what the security apparatus is doing underground to contain any eventuality but it is necessary for something to done.” Nathaniel Ballah, 54, told Daily Watch News.