By Bill W. Cooper
The Senate Committee Chairperson on Security, Defense, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs, Momo T. Cyrus, has revealed that the government has approved funding needed to transport the long-awaited African Union (AU) donated military equipment worth US$20 million to Liberia.
The Lofa County Senator also mentioned that President Joseph Boakai has already instructed Finance and Development Planning Minister, Augustine Ngafuan to make the full funds available for the transportation of the equipment.
He said, “Many times, we have these engagements, especially when it comes to security. We hide behind the curtains to negotiate and have some discussions before coming to the public. So, at this juncture, I can clearly confirm that all is set for the shipment of this equipment.”
In October of 2024, the Ministry of National Defense (MoD) and Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) announced the AU’s donation of several advanced military equipment for Liberia, aimed at boosting the country’s military forces.
The donated equipment includes cranes, fuel tanks, fire trucks, cargo trucks, military protective assault vehicles, armored personnel carriers, combat jeeps, bulldozers, and various mounted weapon systems and spare parts.
At the 38th Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly of Heads of State in February 2024, held in Addis Ababa, Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti was informed about the AU’s intention to provide the country with a diverse range of lethal and non-lethal equipment from the Continental Logistics Base.
The move, according to the Ministry of Defense release, will further bolster Liberia’s national security as well as its regional commitments to peace and stability in the West African region and beyond.
But since the pronouncement in 2024, there have been mounting concerns from the public about the delay of the shipment of the equipment into the country, with many questioning the government’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
But addressing a news conference yesterday, February 4, 2025, Sen. Cyrus who failed to state the actual financial cost attached to the transportation of the equipment however assured the public that the funds have been made available and that the materials will be brought into the country at the soonest possible time, now that they have exhausted all processes required.
He reflected that the latest decision by the government through the Executive Branch was necessitated by the effective and fruitful engagement of his committee to ensure the provision of the needed funds to initiate the bringing in of the equipment.
According to him, his committee was engaged about three months ago by the AFL Chief of Staff, Brig. Gen. Davidson F. Forleh, who pleaded for their intervention to get the equipment into the country, something that necessitated his intervention.
He maintained, “You know that Liberia is in dire need of military equipment and bringing the equipment will be a great help. So, the good thing is, the government through President Boakai, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the ALF, has agreed to provide the finance.”
Sen. Cyrus, at the same time, asserted that Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan has already received the president’s mandate and is acting in accordance to ensure the equipment is brought into the country at a more reasonable date.