Home Editorial AU’s Empowerment of AFL: An Enormous Step Towards National, Regional & Global Security

AU’s Empowerment of AFL: An Enormous Step Towards National, Regional & Global Security

by News Manager

Recently, the Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) secured over US$20m worth of essential logistics equipment from the continental body, the African Union (AU).

The donation to the AFL, no doubt, serves as a significant boost to Liberia’s military capabilities and the country’s commitment to strengthening and promoting national, regional and global security.

This substantial aid package, according to AFL and the MOD, is the culmination of ongoing diplomatic and military efforts initiated in 2018 by Brigadier General Davidson F. Forleh, now Chief of Staff of AFL.

According to the AFL and the MOD, during his tenure as Liberia’s Defense Attache’ and Chairman of the Military Staff Committee on the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU), General Forleh advocated vigorously for logistical support for the Liberian military, which has now resulted in this major contribution.

The logistics equipment, previously donated to the AU by the Chinese government includes cargo trucks, military protective assault vehicles, armored personnel carriers, combat jeeps.

Others are bulldozers, cranes, fuel tanks, fire trucks and mounted weapon systems, along with spare parts and other materials.

Valued at exactly US$20,601,529.46, this equipment, the AFL and MOD said, will significantly enhance the AFL capabilities in troop transportation, field operations, disaster relief, and international peace keeping missions.

The decision to allocate this equipment to Liberia was confirmed during the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government in February, 2024, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Madam Sara Beysolow Nyanti, represented President Joseph Nyuma Boakai at the Session where the AU’s commitment was initially disclosed.

This was further solidified at the 16th Ordinary Session of the AU’s Special Technical Committee on Defense, Safety, and Security in June, 2024.

Indeed, we, at The INDEPENDENT Newspaper, wish to applaud the African Union for this indelible helpful contribution to the Republic of Liberia, through the AFL and the Ministry of National Defense.

We are equally and wholeheartedly thrilled and delighted by the sincere and resolute efforts made by General Davidson F. Forleh, now, AFL Chief of Staff, while on a major national assignment abroad, then, as Liberia’s Defense Attache’ and Chairman of the Military Staff Committee on the Peace and Security Council of the African Union (AU).

Frankly, this donation by the AU to the Liberian nation would go a long way in the empowerment, efficiency and effectiveness of the Liberian military in its operations at home and abroad.

This historic generosity of the AU will, in no small way, enable the AFL to fully carry out its constitutional and other statutory duties including the defense and protection of the Liberian nation and its territorial integrity.

We have no molecule of doubt that such impactful provision of valuable logistics equipment will inject high sense of dynamism, vitality and vigor into the AFL as it implements its crucial defense, peace and security missions at home and abroad, with the support of the African Union (AU), United Nations (UN), and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), among others.

In short, we say Hat-Off to the AU and B/General Davidson F. Forley, Chief of Staff of the AFL for a Job well done.

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