4 February 2005
By the time Charles Taylor's ragtag militias hit the strategic central provincial highland city of Gbarnga and the equally strategic coastal city of Buchanan in early April 1990, it was clear that it would only be a short while before the nation's army gets winded and throws in the towel.
It did but not as earlier as predicted. Many at the time thought that the army met that crushing nemesis because of tribal conspiracy and lack of logistics; that though, was only part of the story if the findings of current assessments are to be taken at face value. There were much more including indiscipline, lack of focus, and outright lack of basic combat training. Now with modalities being worked out with the U.S. military to begin restructuring, training, and upgrading the Liberian army in full gear, there are indications that the army will never be the same again. Ellis Togba has been looking at what the marks of change would be.
U.S. military officials in Monrovia have disclosed yesterday that the U.S. Government has begun efforts to restructure, train, and upgrade the Liberian army to give a professional look.
The officials, the military attaché of the U.S. Embassy and the visiting official of the Security Sector Reform Program (SSR) established to oversee the training process, Andy Michael, noted that the program would involve the refurbishing of key areas including the air force and other departments representative of a modern, reactive, responsive and career-oriented military.
Speaking to journalist yesterday during a press conference held at the Public Affairs Office of the U.S. Embassy to explain the kind of army the U.S. government envisages for Liberia, the US Embassy Military attaché said the training of the new Liberian army would last for three years, working on several components.
The new Liberian army if trained according to him will consist of air, ground and marine forces, noting that they expect the new army to be of high quality, apolitical, and religiously and ethnically capable of defending the borders of Liberia.
"Specifically, the restructuring of the ground force will consist of training, equipping, building infantry battalions and other requirements," the military attaché noted.
Under the SSR program, according to the US Embassy attaché, the Ministry of Defense will be restructured to comprise a brigade headquarters and a training and operational base.
"The AFL restructuring program is fundamental to securing peace and security in Liberia after years of imbroglio," he said.
For his part, the head of the SSR program, Andy Michael, said the restructuring of the new Liberian army is the "beginning of lasting and meaningful engagements with the people of Liberia." According to him, their focus is to establish a security sector, which will perform satisfactorily, stick to its norms, and respect human rights, the rule of law, and the Constitution and laws of Liberia.
"We hope to create a security sector that is funded under a very strong foundation," he said, adding that that strong foundation is about a number of Liberians who will rededicate themselves everyday to do their duties faithfully on behalf of all Liberians.
Under the plan, according to Mr. Michael, the redevelopment of all the ministries, revitalization of the economy, and the development of the health, education, and judicial sectors of the country will be tackled.
Not ruling out the importance of revitalizing of these agencies, he indicated that their focus was for now on security sector reform, which according to him many believe is integral to the upholding of the new Liberia everyone wants to see.
In order to do this, he said, their focus is on three principle aspects: "the rehabilitation of damaged physical infrastructures necessary for the training of forces on the one hand and conduct of the activities of the Ministry of Defense on the other hand." The US military official also disclosed that they have already dedicated responsibility to someone who is an expert in logistic and reconstruction.
"That person will lead the rehabilitation project of the defense system," he stressed.
The second component of the SSR program, he said, is the restructuring of the modus operandi of the Ministry of Defense with the goal of creating a professional civil servant which qualification according to him "meets the requirement of the job, character and probity." This, he said has to be qualified by the team to ensure what he termed "successful discharge of their obligations." The third component he said has to do with the reconstitution of the Armed Forces of Liberia with specific role and duty.
He noted that the new AFL would have "command structure from the top to the bottom and will be rededicated to upholding the Constitution of Liberia.
Although, the SSR program is heavily being funded by the US, the military expert did not ignore the fact that it is for Liberia.
Said he, "This is Liberian program. We want Liberians to own, integrate and to accept it so that everything we do will be communicated in a timely way and we will be accountable for the result of Liberia we are here to serve." The second aspect according to him is "principle," suggesting that if accountability should extend to all, all Liberian counterparts are expected to behave themselves in the manner of standard, noting, "If we stick to the third point, we will attempt to achieve the second point by engaging in a very broad national recruiting campaign." Touching on how the application would be done, the Defense official said, "We invite all qualified Liberians to apply for positions either as uniform member of the AFL or civil servants in the new Ministry of Defense." According to him their focus will not be in Monrovia but that they will reach out to all and sundry.
He encouraged those who have interest in joining the new army and are qualified to apply.
In the application process, he said, they would adhere to the "fundamental principles of law" and there would be no other way to circumvent this.
The principles and protocols they hope to accord the process, he said, are designed to ensure probity, efficiency and preparedness for the job.
"We will be implementing series of protocols and procedures designed to investigate the background of each applicant to ensure that we achieve our goal," the SSR official said.
At the same time, he disclosed that there will be series of examinations designed to achieve important elements as to applicant preparedness to form part of the army.
He said to be a soldier in a modern era requires different tasks.
"Besides that, you must have greater skills, potency, and probity to perform," he said.
Following the application formalities, the SSR member said, "Those who will be selected would then proceed to the training center where they will be inducted into the new armed forces." In remarks, Defense Minister Daniel Chea said criteria outlined by the US reaffirmed government's desire.
"You will recall that about a quarter of a century ago, we have had problems in this country and I believe this is the beginning for the turn of events that could bring us back to normalcy." He said, "We need a sound security sector that will guard Liberia. We thank the U.S. government, our traditional friend, for taking the lead." Meanwhile a strong force of about 4,000 soldiers of the Armed Forces of Liberia will be trained to protect and defend the borders of the country under the United States Department of State for Security Sector Reform (SSR) for Liberia, a U.S. embassy release said yesterday.
The three-year contractor-executed program is estimated to cost $200 million and is crucial to continued peace and security in Liberia following the withdrawal of the UN Mission in Liberia, the release said..
"The SSR Program will recreate a high quality, professional security apparatus that is apolitical, ethnically and religiously balanced, and capable of defending Liberia's borders and internal regions from foreign and domestic threats.
The program is designed to produce in two years a professional Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) of approximately 4,000.
"The recreated AFL will have ground, air and maritime components and will be funded by the Liberian National Defense budget. The SSR program will emphasize quality and fully capable small units.
"Additional funding may permit the AFL to include Ministry of Defense and brigade headquarters, refurbishment of training and operational bases, four light motorized infantry battalions, an engineer battalion, a support battalion, a Coast Guard and Aerial Surveillance and a Reconnaissance Unit.
"Training is to start early this year, and it involve recruiting, qualification, procurement, and the refurbishment of training facilities.
"The SSR will formally re-establish U.S. Liberia military relationship. The U.S. Embassy, through the Office of Defense Cooperation, will coordinate the program in regular consultation with the National Transitional Government of Liberia's Minister of Defense.
"At the same time, the U.S. Embassy says its Consular Section will not provide regular consular services to the Liberian people because it is undergoing restructuring.
"When the restructuring exercise is completed, and the Consular Section is fully staffed, it will be re-opened to the public at which time opening days and hours will be announced," the statement quoted the Embassy.
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