-Demands Urgent Budgetary Action
By G. Bennie Bravo Johnson
The Liberian National Bar Association (LNBA) through its national President, Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, issued a blunt warning to the Government of Liberia, describing the current size of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) a “strategic vulnerability” that poses a direct threat to national security.
Speaking at the Barclay Training Center during an honoring ceremony of newly promoted AFL officers, Cllr. Varmah described the strength of the National Army as “unacceptable” the reality that a nation of over 5.2 million people is guarded by an army of fewer than 2,000 personnel.
“This is not just a manpower concern — it is a national crisis in waiting,” Varmah asserted, adding that Liberia’s postwar gains could unravel if the military remains underfunded and overstretched. “No matter how professional and patriotic, a small force cannot safeguard the security demands of a modern Republic facing both internal vulnerabilities and regional instability.”
The National Bar President directly challenged lawmakers, the Ministry of Defense, and national budgetary authorities to confront what he called “a dangerous complacency” toward defense spending.
Cllr. Varmah’s assertion comes amid growing regional instability marked by coups, transnational crime, and the spread of violent extremism in parts of West Africa. He stressed that Liberia must now move beyond ceremonial support and make decisive fiscal and legislative investments to scale up the military’s operational readiness.
“The peace we enjoy today cannot be taken for granted. We must invest in it.”
The remarks which represent one of the strongest public calls by a legal professional for a defense-centered national policy shift, signal growing concern across sectors about Liberia’s limited capacity to respond to emerging threats.
While praising the AFL’s professionalism and recent progress, Cllr. Varmah warned that continued under-resourcing of security institutions could roll back critical gains in democracy and national sovereignty.
The event, attended by senior government officials, military brass, diplomats, and civil society leaders, also celebrated the promotion of several AFL officers—an achievement the Bar President said must be matched with “systemic support and sufficient tools to perform.”
In a separate development, the LNBA welcomed the recent nomination of Cllr. Boakai Kanneh as Associate Justice of the Supreme Court by President Joseph N. Boakai. The Association lauded the President’s judgment and reaffirmed its commitment to promoting justice, accountability, and the rule of law.
“The Bar remains a firm partner in defending the integrity of Liberia’s democratic institutions,” said LNBA Secretary General, Cllr. Elisha T. J. Forkeyoh, in a statement issued shortly after the event.
