What we know about Weah’s chaotic return and AFL’s airport deployment

By: Laymah Kollie and Jackson Clay

Photo of former President George Weah. Source: George Weah– Facebook page

What should have been a joyous return to Liberia, at least for supporters of former president George Weah, turned out to be a brutal show of power at the country’s international airport.

According to media reports, the Armed Forces of Liberia were present at the airport in full regalia, creating a tense atmosphere.

Former President of the Republic of Liberia, George Weah, was out of the country with his family for a couple of weeks after handing over power to his successor, Joseph Boakai. Upon his return to the country on July 13, 2024, supporters, well-wishers, and partisans gathered at the Roberts International Airport to welcome the leader back.

The Armed Forces of Liberia personnel were there, too, with no clear explanation for the soldiers’ unusual presence at the airport Information and Tourism Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah suggested the military be deployed to the airport after the government learned that Weah supporters were going to cause mayhem in the name of welcoming the ex-president.

In the heat of the tension at the Airport, a politician, Togar Bealded, took to his Facebook page to question the AFL’s presence at the airport. In his post, he referred to the action as a misstep. According to Togar, the Army should have been in the barracks to enable the police to do their job at the airport.
“If it’s true that the AFL was sent to the airport today to curb any occurrence other than the Police, then it’s a misstep. Keep the army in the barracks,” he said.

In response to this write-up, the post generated 33 reactions, 89 comments, and one share. Some welcomed the decision to deploy AFL at the airport, while others disagreed.

The situation created tension amongst the public, forcing the House of Representatives to summon major security apparatus before the House. The controversy has received widespread media coverage, as can be found on Frontpage Africa.

It was also a subject of debate on the floor of the legislature.
Though the party did not officially issue a statement, the former presidential aide and a staunch member of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Sekou Kalasco Damaaro, had this to say via his official Facebook page.
“How does the arrival of His Excellency George Weah pose any security threat to the country that Mr Boakai will deploy the Military at the airport? This is troubling for the stability of the country and the democratic gains that have been made! Mr Boakai needs to stop creating unnecessary tension in this Country.”

DUBAWA finds the development worthy of interrogation and has decided to explore the military’s role in democratic practice in Liberia.

The Law and AFL Development
Chapter IX, Article 85 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, talks about emergency powers and the deployment of the Armed Forces of Liberia.

The article states: The President, as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, may order any portion of the Armed Forces into a state of combat readiness in defence of the Republic, before or after the declaration of a state of emergency, as may be warranted by the situation. All military power or authority shall, however, be held in subordination to the civil authority and the Constitution at all times.

Also, the National Defense Act of 2008, an Act establishing the Armed Forces of Liberia, outlined the functions of the AFL. It states when, who, and for what purpose the Security body can be deployed.

Chapter 2, Section 2.3 of the Act detailed the Duties and Functions of the Armed Forces of Liberia.
It is stated as follows:
(a) The primary mission of the AFL shall be to defend Liberia’s national sovereignty and territorial integrity, including land, air, and marine territory, against external aggressions, insurgency, terrorism, and encroachment. In addition, thereto, the AFL shall respond to natural disasters and engage in other civic works as may be required or directed.
(b) The AFL shall also participate in international peacekeeping, peace enforcement and others by the UN, the AU, ECOWAS, MRU and/or all international institutions of which Liberia may be a member. All such activities shall be undertaken only upon authorisation of the President of Liberia with the consent of the Legislature.
(c) The AFL shall provide command, communications, logistical, medical, transportation and humanitarian support to the civil authority in the event of a natural or man-made disaster, outbreak of disease or epidemic. The President of Liberia shall authorize such assistance.
(d) The AFL shall assist civil authorities in search, rescue and saving of life on land, sea or air; such assistance shall be authorised by the President for immediate response by specialised search and rescue units in conjunction with other Government Ministries and Agencies.
(e) The AFL’s duties in peacetime shall include supporting the national law enforcement agencies when requested and approved by the President. Such support shall include the exchange of information, personnel training, and mobilisation and deployment of security contingents. However, the AFL shall not engage in law enforcement within Liberia at any time during peacetime, such function being the prerogative of the Liberia National Police and other law enforcement agencies.

Notwithstanding, the Military Police of the AFL may, on request of the Ministry of Justice made to the Ministry of National Defense and approved by the President of Liberia, provide assistance to these law enforcement agencies as determined by prevailing situations. The AFL shall intervene only as a last resort when the threat exceeds the capacity of the law enforcement agencies to respond.

Following the incident with former President Weah at the Roberts International Airport, the House of Representatives summoned the heads of the various security apparatus to answer inquiries regarding the former Liberian Leader.

According to news reported by Front Page Africa, the House of Representatives’ decision to summon those officials followed a formal communication from Montserrado District #9 and a ranking member of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) Representative, Frank Saah Foko.
Even before appearing before the Representative, the chief of staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), Brigadier General Davidson Forleh stated that the RIA security coordinator had asked the AFL to beef up security while the police was on its way, since partisans, sympathizers and well-wishers of the CDC had gone in their numbers to receive the former president.
“The ‘decisive’ intervention of the AFL detachment commander was done without informing his appropriate superior commander, who would have notified the AFL High Command,” Brigadier General Forleh indicated.

Conclusion
From the investigation, it is clear that the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) were deployed at the request of the RIA security coordinator as a stop-gap measure to maintain security at the airport, at least until the police arrive on the scene. However, per the law, it is clear that the police should have been invited first to maintain law and order, before turning to the military if the situation escalates.