A POV by Rabbi Joe Gbaba
Espionage is the clandestine practice of collecting information—spying to uncover the plans and activities of a foreign government to gain a strategic advantage. Similarly, treason is the ultimate betrayal: the crime of aiding a nation’s enemies or attempting to overthrow its government from within.
The recent encroachment upon Liberian territory raises a chilling possibility: that we are witnessing the fallout of both. It is plausible that individuals with access to classified information have leaked national secrets, emboldening the Guinean government to carry out this aggression against the peaceful people of Liberia.
A Security Vacuum at the Border
To understand how this encroachment was facilitated, we must look at a glaring reality: The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) were non-existent during this crisis. There were no Liberian soldiers at the border posts to defend our sovereignty when it mattered most.
Liberia has been caught with her pants down.
This failure is more than a logistical lapse; it is the symptom of a nation losing its cultural and national consciousness. If we truly understood our history, we would be more vigilant. We would recognize that our forefathers fought tirelessly to secure these lands. It was for this very purpose that President Arthur Barclay established the Liberia Frontier Force (LFF)—now the AFL—in 1908:
To protect Liberia’s borders and prevent the encroachment of our territorial confines by foreign nations
Where is the AFL?
The question must be asked: Does Liberia currently have a functional army? If the AFL exists to serve the people, why were they absent when a foreign power hoisted its flag on Liberian soil? Why are Liberian citizens left unprotected and vulnerable to foreign soldiers marching across our land?
Fellow Liberians, it is time to wake up. We cannot afford to slumber while our sovereignty is eroded. We must demand that the President and Commander-in-Chief, Joseph Boakai, deploy AFL troops to the Guinea-Liberia border immediately.
Our land is our heritage. If we do not defend it today, we may not have a country to leave for our children tomorrow.
To be continued…