MONROVIA, Montserrado – On Monday, the United States government donated twenty-two vehicles to the Armed Forces of Liberia.

The vehicles included 18 Land Cruiser jeeps, two 24-foot Boston Whaler boats for the Coast Guard, two maintenance vehicles, and one container of spare parts.

Christine Elder, the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia, noted that her government had a long and continuing relationship with the AFL, pointing out that the U.S. was “heavily involved with demobilizing of the old AFL during the end of the civil crisis.”

Christine Elder, United States Ambassador to Liberia. Photo: Zeze Ballah

Elder explained that following the end of the civil upheaval in Liberia, the U.S. government then recruited, vetted, trained, and equipped 2,000 men and women for the new AFL.

The U.S., long considered a strategic partner of Liberia due to the unique historic ties between the two countries, established Operation Onward Liberty to provide U.S. military personnel to mentor and advise the AFL on building a professional military.

One of two Boston Whaler boats donated to the Coast Guard. Photo: Zeze Ballah

The U.S. ambassador said her government would also be providing a 10,000-liter water truck, a 50,000 liter-per-day water purification unit, and a mobile kitchen trailer for the AFL’s upcoming deployment to Mali via the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Peacekeeping Mission.

She said that as the partnership between the two countries moves forward, the embassy’s office of security cooperation would continue to support Liberia in the areas of defense, institution strengthening, engineer support, professional development, maritime security and medical readiness.

(L-R) President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Defense Minister Brownie Samukai and Chief of Staff Daniel Ziankahn. Photo: Zeze Ballah

AFL Chief of Staff Daniel Ziankahn said the donation could not have come at a better time as the United Nation Mission in Liberia draws down.

“We hope that these vehicles and equipment would serve the purpose of the AFL as it is in need of equipment and vehicles,” Ziankahn said.

In March of this year, Defense Minister Brownie Samukai had warned that the members of the AFL serving in Mali lacked proper peacekeeping equipment.

Samukai, who was not specific at the time about which equipment the troops required, said that although the platoon is small in size, they are engaged in providing full protection for the military base in Timbuktu and also providing protection for over 2,000 people.

Featured photo by Zeze Ballah