Monrovia, Liberia – The current size of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) is a “strategic vulnerability” that directly threatens national security, according to a blunt warning sent to the government of Liberia by the Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) through its national president, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah.
Speaking during a honoring ceremony on Wednesday,
July 23, 2025, promoted AFL officers at the Barclay Training Center. Cllr. Varmah called the strength of the National Army “unacceptable,” citing the fact that an army of less than 2,000 soldiers is not cable for protecting a country of more than 5.2 million people.
Varmah claimed that this is a national crisis in waiting rather than merely a personnel issue He said, if the military is left underfunded and overworked, Liberia’s postwar successes may be undone. The security requirements of a contemporary Republic confronting both internal vulnerabilities and regional instability cannot be met by a tiny army, no matter how skilled and loyal they are, the president added.
The president of the National Bar issued a direct appeal to the Ministry of Defense, national budgeting authorities, and politicians to address what he described as “a dangerous complacency” with regard to defense expenditures.
In the midst of increasing regional instability characterized by coups, transnational crime, and the rise of violent extremism in some regions of West Africa, Cllr. Varmah said, to increase the military’s operational preparedness, Liberia must now go beyond token assistance and make significant financial and legislative commitments.
“We must be grateful for the peace we have today. We need to make an investment.”
Many sectors are becoming increasingly concerned about Liberia’s inadequate ability to respond to new threats, as seen by the comments, which are among the strongest public appeals by a legal expert for a change in national policy that is defense-centered.
Cllr. Varmah commended the AFL’s professionalism and recent achievements, but cautioned that further underfunding of security institutions might undo significant developments in national sovereignty and democracy.
Senior government officials, military commanders, diplomats, and representatives of civil society attended the occasion, which also commemorated the promotion of many AFL officers. The Bar President stated that this accomplishment has to be accompanied by systematic support and sufficient tools to perform.
In a different development, the LNBA applauded President Joseph N. Boakai’s recent nomination of Cllr. Boakai Kanneh as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. The Association reinforced its dedication to promoting justice, accountability, and the rule of law while applauding the President’s decision.
“The Bar is still a strong ally in protecting Liberia’s democratic institutions,” remarked Cllr. Elisha T. J. Forkeyoh, Secretary General of the LNBA, in a statement released after the event.
Reported by G. Bennie Bravo Johnson
