The Bureau of Public Affairs

Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Monrovia, Liberia

NEWS SUMMARY FOR WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2014

Events of the 57^th Armed Forces Day celebration including the commissioning of two defender boats for the Coast Guard, the induction to the new Chief of Staff of the Liberian Army, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s urge for the new leadership of the AFL to exhibit good leadership qualities, the new Chinese envoy Letters of Credence to President  Johnson Sirleaf and the National Election Commission lawsuit against twenty political parties dominate our summary of the local dailies for today Wednesday, February 12, 2014.

Dominant Stories

AFL Gets Defender Boats

 The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia, President Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf, has commissioned two defender boats to be used by the Liberian Coast Guard.  The commissioning ceremony was part of the activities marking the 57th Anniversary of Armed Forces Day here Tuesday.  According to an Executive Mansion release, the two boats, donated by the United States Government, have been named in honor of two eminent Liberian women – Madam Ruth Sando Perry, and Dr. Mary Antoinette Brown Sherman.  Madam Perry was former Chairman of the erstwhile Council of State that led Liberia to its first post-war election in 1997, while Dr. Brown Sherman was the first and only female President of the University of Liberia. In brief remarks at the Liberian Coast Guard Headquarters on Bushrod Island, President Sirleaf thanked the U.S. Government and attributed a large portion of the AFL reconstruction to U.S. assistance, which she said, is the result of a great partnership between the two countries. Cutting the ribbon to the boathouse, the Commander-in-Chief said she had no doubt that the Coast Guard will increase its performance, with the commissioning of the two additional boats, in patrolling the country’s territorial waters.  She recalled that when the Liberian-Ivorian border became fragile as a result of rebel activities in the area, and Liberia closed its border with Côte D’Ivoire, the Coast Guard patrolled the area to ensure that Liberia remained safe.  For her part, United States Ambassador Deborah Malac renewed her government’s commitment to the partnership that has brought the two countries together. She promised her country’s continuous support to the upkeep of the Liberian Army, including training and logistics, among others. Ambassador Malac said that through U.S. support, the Liberian Coast Guard has completed comprehensive training to become a fully operational force.  “Since 2008, the Coast Guard has conducted numerous patrols along Liberia’s territorial waters, conducted search and rescue operations, and has seized vessels illegally fishing in Liberian waters,” she recalled.  As part of the ceremony, Ambassador Malac also turned over a new boathouse, two new trucks, and two 4x4 utility vehicles to the Coast Guard. Witnessing the ceremony were: National Defense Minister Brownie Samukai; the outgoing AFL Command-Officer-in-Charge, Major General Suraj Abdurrahman; the AFL Chief of Staff-designate, General Daniel Ziankhan; and the Deputy Chief of Staff-designate, Colonel Eric Dennis, among others, the New Dawn newspaper reports.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Commissions Two Defender Boats (FOCUS), U.S. Committed To Assisting AFL, Says Envoy Malac (FOCUS, The Analyst), U.S. Gov’t Donates US$2.2 M In Equipment & Facilities To Liberian Coast Guard(Heritage), Two Defender Boats Commissioned – To Patrol Liberia’s Territorial Waters (INSIGHT), As Part of 52^ndAnniversary Of armed Forces Day, Pres. Sirleaf Commissions Two Defender Boats- Named For Two Liberian Women, To Patrol nation’s Territorial Waters (The Analyst)

Lead By Examples - CIC Ellen Challenges New AFL Chief Of Staff

The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL),  Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has challenged the newly commissioned Chief of Staff of the (AFL),  Brigadier General, Daniel Doe Ziankhan, to lead by examples as he takes up the state of affairs of the gallant men and women of the Liberian army. Ziankhan, who was commissioned on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 at the 57th Armed Forces Day celebration and Change of Command ceremony held at the Barclay Training Center in Monrovia, replaces Major General Suraz A. Abdurrahman, who served in the capacity of Commanding Officer In-Charge (COIC). “Your leadership must be committed to duty. You must live by examples in the execution of your duties as the new Chief of the Staff of our army. I challenge you as leader to lead by examples,” said CIC Ellen. The Liberian leader stated that the appointment of the AFL Chief of Staff and his Deputy was done based on  sound vetting and merit, and such, she is of the strongest conviction that they will live up to the task. “I have full confidence in the discharge of your duties, and so, I am convinced that you will live up to the task given you,” said CIC Ellen, the Heritage newspaper reports.

Related Caption: Pres. Sirleaf Challenges New AFL Chiefs (FOCUS), “Promote Nat’l Development” – AFL Challenged(INSIGHT)

Sawyer Suggests Developmental Military

Liberia’s former Interim President, now Governance Commission Chair Dr. Amos C. Sawyer, has called on the restructured National Army to be development-oriented in serving to empower Liberians and inhabitants. The New Dawn newspaper reveals that delivering the keynote address Tuesday at the 57th Armed Forces Day celebration in Monrovia, Dr. Sawyer suggested that the new Armed Forces of Liberia or AFL can become a partner with other state institutions in advancing agriculture, especially for food security, engineering and construction, literacy work and health work, among others. “Just as we construct a developmental state, we must construct a developmental military. Our military today is the most educated we ever had.  It is the best ever capable of being shaped, trained and equipped to become a developmental military,” he said. He urged the military to play a service role to the citizenry along with other state institutions in accelerating the implementation of government’s national development programs.

Related Caption: “Promote Nat’l Development” – AFL Challenged (INSIGHT)

New Army Chief Inducted

 The New Dawn newspaper confirms that the Commander-In-Chief of the Armed Forces of Liberia, President Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf has inducted a new Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia or AFL, after nearly a decade under the command of Nigerian Command Officer-in-Charge, Major General Suraj Alao Abdurrahman. Brigadier General Daniel D. Ziankhan yesterday replaced outgoing Command Officer-in-Charge General Abdurrahaman during the official ceremony marking the 57th Anniversary of the AFL at the Barclay Training Center or BTC in Monrovia.  The occasion, held at the compound of the Ministry of National Defense on Lynch Street, was witnessed by members of the Legislature, the Judiciary, the cabinet, UN Peace Keepers and Liberia’s partners, members of the diplomatic and Counselor corps, heads of the paramilitary and other national security institutions in Liberia.

Chief of Staff Ziankhan, along with his Deputy Chief of Staff, Col. Eric W. Dennis, who also replaced a Liberian outgoing Deputy Chief of Staff, Col. Daniel Moore, was inducted by C-I-C Sirleaf. Also inducted by the Commander-In-Chief was Colonel Prince C. Johnson, III, as new Brigadier Commander of the 23rd Infantry Brigade of the Armed Forces of Liberia. The Commander-In-Chief said Liberia looks to the future with optimism that its restructured army will continue its professional development within the context of government’s overall defense strategy, describing Brigadier General Ziankhan as an outstanding officer with quality leadership potential- an airborne qualified officer and a recent graduate of the United States Army Command and General Staff College with a Master’s Degree in Military Science and Strategy.  According to the AFL Commander-In-Chief, the Deputy Chief of Staff, Col. Dennis comes to the job with a credible wealth of experience- a recent graduate of the Ghana Army Command and Staff College with two Master’s Degrees, while Brigadier Commander Johnson is a recent graduate of the United States Army Command and Staff College, and an outstanding officer, disciplined and well-trained.  She urged the new army leadership to demonstrate their readiness and capability to lead, exhibit good leadership qualities and lead by example.  “You cannot afford to fail yourselves, your compatriots, your mentors- much has been sacrificed and invested in bringing you this far.

Related Caption: Brig. Gen. Ziankham Takes Mantle Of Authority – As Former AFL Command Chief of Office Staff Expresses Confidence (INSIGHT)L

New Chinese Envoy Presents Letters Of Credence – Reaffirms Commitment To One-China Policy

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has received the Letters of Credence from the new Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) to Liberia, His Excellency Mr. Zhang Yue. According to an Executive Mansion release, President Sirleaf received in audience His Excellency Ambassador Zhang at a ceremony in the President’s temporary office, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Monday, February 10., the Analyst newspaper writes.

Related Caption: New Chinese Ambassador Arrives – Presents Letters Of Credence To Pres. Sirleaf(INSIGHT)

NEC TAKES 20 POLITICAL PARTIES TO COURT – NUDP, NDC, LTP  INCLUDED

The National Elections Commission (NEC) has filed a petition before the Civil Law Court for the Revocation of the Registration and Accreditation of 20 registered political parties in Liberia. The Political Parties include the National Vision Party of Liberia, National Democratic Coalition, the National Union for Democratic Progress, Citizens Unification Party, Freedom Alliance Party, Original Congress Party, Liberia Empowerment Party, Progressive Democratic party, Liberia Destiny Party and the Liberia National Union. Others are Liberia Transformation Party, National Reformation Party, National Political Parties, and Independent Candidates. Part II, Chapter IV of the Guidelines relating to the registration of Political parties and Independent Candidates mandates that “each political party shall maintain an updated bank account with a balance not less than 10,000 United States Dollars or its equivalence in Liberian Dollars. The Liberia Reconstruction Party, National Social Democratic party of Liberia, Republican Party, Liberia Equal Rights Party, Majority Party of Liberia and the Progressive people’s Party absolutely failed to comply with the Constitutional Requirement of Article 83(d) as well as the regulatory requirement of Part II Chapter IV of the Guidelines Relating to the Registration of Political parties and Independent Candidates, by the failure to publish and submit detailed statements of their assets and liabilities and maintaining a bank balance of not less than US$10, 000 or its Liberian dollar equivalent. The National Democratic Coalition, National Democratic Party of Liberia, and Alliance for Peace and Democracy did not only neglect the above mentioned constitutional and regulatory requirement to publish and submit detailed statement of their assets and liabilities on September 1, they also failed to make such submission during a grace period provided to them by the Commission, the INSIGHT newspaper reports.

Related Caption: NEC Takes 20 Political Parties To Court (The Analyst)

Other stories

 16 LNP OFFICERS SUSPENDED

 The National Police has suspended 16 officers who were recently arrested in the commercial district of Red Light in Paynesville City on Monday, February 10, 2014. Making the disclosure, Police spokesman Sam Collins said the 16 officers who were apprehended for loitering in Red Light as though they were traffic officers have undergone investigation by the Professional Standard Unit of the LNP. According to him, the suspended officers will not get pay for one month while under suspension and have been warned not to violate the Police Duty manner that frowns on wrongful assessment, the FOCUS newspaper reveals.

Labor Boss Attends ARLAC Summit

The FOCUS newspaper reports that the Minister of Labor, Cllr. F. Juah Lawson is currently in Harare, Zimbabwe attending the Annual African Regional Labor Administration Summit. According to a document from the Labor Ministry, the Governing Council Meeting for Ministers and high level symposium on ARLAVC at 40, is held under the Theme: “Sustaining Partnership and Collaborating in Strengthening Labor Administrations Systems in Africa.”

GC, COMMERCE HOLD ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT SYMPOSIUM

The Governance Commission, in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, is holding a 3-day symposium under the theme “A Bold New Approach for National Economic Participation and Empowerment.” A press release issued Tuesday said, the aim of the event to be held at the Monrovia City Hall on March 11, 12 and 13, 2014, is to contribute to the enhancement of economic entrepreneurial policy and to explore ways to strengthen the cooperation and coordination among the institutions of economic governance in Liberia.
The release said that the acceleration of the participation of Liberians as entrepreneurs in the national economy will be one of the major topics for discussion. It said that the symposium will bring together some of Liberia’s best economists, lawyers, bankers and actors within both the formal and informal sectors of the economy, the New Dawn newspaper reports.