Liberia House Of Reps Summons Top Security Officials Over Heavy Army Presence At Airport During George Weah’s Arrival

Liberia’s House of Representatives has summoned top national security officials to explain the deployment of a large Armed Forces of Liberia at the Roberts International Airport (RIA) during the arrival of former President George Weah and his wife.

Last weekend, Weah and his wife arrived at the airport to a large crowd welcoming them home after a month abroad. However, the unprecedented presence of the army at the airport raised concerns, prompting the House of Representatives summon.

One of the lawmakers, Frank Saah Foko Jr., initiated the summon, stating that “this woeful scene brought to mind the fresh memory of our dark and ugly past where soldiers were unlawfully deployed to defend the state against rebels.”

“Liberia is not at war,” Foko continued, “neither are we in a state of turmoil or emergency, which by law should not authorise the military to terrorise peaceful citizens who went to RIA to receive their political leader warmly.”

Foko is in the same political party as Weah, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).

The summoned officials include the Minister of Defense, Geraldine George; Minister of Justice, Councillor Oswald Tweh; Army Chief of Staff, Brig. Gen. Davidson Korleh; and National Security Advisor, Attorney Samuel Koffi Woods.

The Army Chief of Staff, Forleh, explained that the airport’s security coordinator requested the army’s support due to the large crowd, pending the arrival of the Liberian National Police. Forleh noted that the army commander had acted without informing his appropriate superior. He added that an investigation had begun, and the erring commander recalled.

However, the Minister of Information, Jerolinmek Piah, defended the deployment, citing threats from Weah’s supporters.

During a press briefing on Tuesday, Piah said Weah’s crowd of supporters threatened to burn down the terminal if they were not allowed entry, which called for the army intervention. He added that since tourism was a priority in President Joseph Boakai’s administration, lawlessness (at the airport) would discourage tourists.

Piah, therefore, urged the former president, Weah, to control his supporters.

Meanwhile, the opposition party, the CDC, condemned the deployment, calling it unnecessary and provocative. The party, however, urged their supporters to remain calm and warned against the increasing use of force by security forces, which they said could lead to civil disorder.

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