Ahead of the upcoming presidential and general elections, the Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Force of Liberia (AFL), have warned the public, concerning its role and responsibility expected in the 2023 elections, stating that they will never sit and watch the country democracy be derailed.
Explaining the role of the Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Force of Liberia Thursday September 8, 2022 at the Ministry of Information Press briefing in the upcoming elections across the country, Defense Minister Daniel Dee Zlankham said that the AFL will play that independent mutual role they played during the 2017 elections but will not sit back and watch the country democracy derailed.
‘’We will not sit back and allow our democracy to be derailed. We will not allow anyone to vandalize what we call in the military critical infrastructure, like the airport, Central Bank, hydro, and other critical areas. More besides, the Armed Forces of Liberia will be standing back to fully support our civilians authority, that is we will not be on the front runner, but the police and other security apparatuses that will be charge with that authority to guide our election but we will move in whenever we are call upon’’ Minister Zlankham warned.
According to him, when they are call upon during the 2023 election to provide support, they will definitely move in, disclosing that they will be more than ready to come in.
Zlankham lamented that even though its truth that they will not be in charge of the elections process of the country to provide security but he assured the public that the military will be ready to move in to give back up the police.
‘’As relates to the 2023 presidential and legislative elections it is very critical. We all are aware what that did to us after the end of the civil war when those places were destroyed, and damaged, therefore, we will not sit back and allow that happen but will depend on the intelligence and the good judgment of the public for us all to have a very, free, fair and transparent elections.”
He said that everybody knows that the election is a critical one and so there have been questions about what will be the role of the AFL during the elections.
Minister Zlankham noted that they are prepared for the 2023 elections, but said it is the shared responsibility of everyone and all stakeholders, most especially politicians to teach their followers about the maintenance of the peace of Liberia.
He said that one of the things that teaches anyone is mistake and it is meant not to be repeated, therefore, it is now time that Liberia learns from her mistake and lesson from other countries and govern themselves, adding that they have used other country lesson and so if it work in 2017 it will work again.
Meanwhile, displaying a small green book, Minister Zlankham indicated that they have developed the code of conduct for all soldiers which regulates and instructs the behavior of soldiers during elections, saying anyone who breach the regulation and instruction will be dealt with in accordance with the military code.
He disclosed that the code of conduct was developed by him and Major Prince Charles Johnson, lll and all soldiers have it therefore, anyone that will go against the guidelines will be subjected to the code of military justice. The soldiers are aware of what is going on from the political end of the country but it is none of their business and so they should do their solider work.
‘’Some of the guidelines in the code provides that no solider should canvas in the barrack, wear any political party shirt or materials, votes in their uniform which could install fear in people around. The guidelines further call that no AFL personal should serve as body guide to any political aspirant weather cousin or uncle or friends and no political vehicle should come in the barrack. Soldiers can vote’’ he noted.
Mr. Zlankham maintained that they were told and thought in the military never to allow their political view to affect their mission and based on that, they do not have to get into politics.
