— As Major Cleanup Sails
IPNEWS: Last weekend a group of over 300 dismissed former officers of the elite Presidential force, Executive Protection Service (EPS), threatened to stage unspecified protest action if the Liberian government does not address their plight before Monday, June 10, 2024, over what they termed ‘illegal dismissal’, but the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, news crew currently touring Central Monrovia see no sign of protest as Liberians are up to their day’s activities.
A spokesman of the over 300 dismissed EPS Officers stated that they would defend our rights to serve our country, and absolutely, no individual has the right to deny us the opportunity to serve this country.
According to them, they will take the street as a last resort if all other avenues in getting the government to response by Monday, June 10, 2024 fails.
“There is no other alternative but to take to the street with our families to protest for our rights and injustice”, said Godfrey Weah, spokesman for the group told reporters on Wednesday, June 4, 2024.
They over 300 dismissed officers claimed worked in the administration of former President George Weah, protecting the Presidency, the Speaker, and other VIPs, including international guests. But when the Boakai administration took office, it dismissed hundreds of them, an action they are challenging.
Godfrey Weah told reporters that the action taken by the new Executive Director of the EPS, Sam Gaye, to relieve over 300 officers without any misconduct or disciplinary act is illegal and an injustice to their right to serve the State.
According to them, such dismissal has left them and their families in extreme hardship amid the current economic reality.
During the former administration, several of the EPS officers wore campaign T-shirts of former President Weah, thus exhibiting partisanship in breach of ethical standards. Accordingly, several of them were dismissed by the new administration. The affected officers caution the Liberia National Police to refrain from intervening if they get out, stressing that the leadership of the Executive Protection Service can only resolve their pending action.
Spokesperson Weah argues that the new EPS leadership’s downsizing of over 300 personnel was wrong. According to him, it undermines the principles of democracy and would certainly set a stage for chaos if not urgently addressed.
The officers maintain that the government should restore their right to work and warn against any action that might provoke a negative response.
They call on the public, including the Liberia Council of Churches, to investigate the matter before it spirals out of control.
“When our children are not in school, I don’t think their children will be in school,” and if our concerns are not addressed in the shortest possible time, it will be a complete disaster, and we caution the Liberia National Police to refrain from this.” Weah continues.
“We will defend ourselves because it is our right to seek justice. Gaye needs to correct these wrongs, or else the situation will worsen,” he adds.
This is the second time the dismissed officers have threatened to protest against the government.
In November 2023, some aggrieved officers of the Executive Protection Service threatened to disrupt the transitional period to demand benefits owed to them by the now-former administration.
Contrary to earlier reports in March 2024 that authorities of the EPS were secretly paying off the over 300 officers dismissed at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville, Executive Protection Service, Sam Gaye, at a Senate confirmation hearing denied the secret payoff, however, indicated that the EPS was currently rightsizing rather than secret payoff.
Director Gaye stated that his administration was dealing with previous overwhelming influx of officers and civilian employees at the EPS due to financial challenges.
He told the Senate Committee on National Security and Veteran Affairs that during his leadership from 2016 to 2018, the EPS had about 400 officers, but the number had swelled to over 900 officers under the Weah’s administration, insisting that were too high to protect only Executive officials.
Early January 2024, an investigation conducted by the authoritative independent Probe Newspaper uncovered the infiltration of several members of the infamous Sabu Unit within the EPS.
Multiple security sources have hinted to the authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper, that President Joseph N. Boakai resumption of normal Presidential duties at the Executive Manson, home for all Liberian Presidents, may take much longer time as previously anticipated.
According to the report, an infiltration of dozens of militias from the Sabu Unit loyal to former Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Tamba Koijee, were enlisted under the cover of darkness days after the undesirable defeat of the former ruling party, Coalition for Democratic Change, in a heavily contested election which ended the six-year rule of former soccer star, George Manneh Weah.
Highly classified intelligence sources tell IPNEWS that while the motive for the surreptitious enlistment of the Sabu Unit militias trained near the Cooper’s Beach, 12 kilometers South of Monrovia by former rebel Generals, into the Executive Protection Service (EPS), is yet known, President Joseph Boakai has been fully briefed on the situation prompting the immediate appointment of the Director of the EPS and National Security Advisor,
One source narrates to IPNEWS that moments of President Joseph Boakai’s nearing collapse of heat exhaustion, last Monday, January 22, 2024, during the inauguration program, a major bridged of security for the President and VIPs was experienced leading to the arrest of at least one of the Sabu Unit militias, who is said to be currently undergoing investigation.
Other sources tell IPNEWS that another militia group loyal to the Chief Butler of former President George Weah, A.B. Shaifa Kromah alais King Buju, VIP Security Network, was heavily infused into the EPS, which is the elite Presidential guard in Liberia.
IPNEWS understand that at least 218 persons of this VIP Security Network, were enlisted into the EPS between 2018 and given employed in 2022 following series of discontent with a monthly salary of US$106, including an addition of 50 personnel in 2023, November, immediately following the victory of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai bringing more complicated security environment for the incumbent, considering their loyal ties to closed associates of the former Weah’s government including feared former Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee, and now exile in Ghana, the former President’s chief butler, A.B . Shaifa Kromah alias ‘King Buju’.
The authoritative Independent Probe Newspaper further understands that at least dozens of Sabu Unit and VIP Security Network members have now abandoned duties at various assignments of the EPS for fear of being arrested to for form part of ongoing investigation.
Sources hints that members of the VIP Security Network owned and operated by King Buju, is currently providing security for several ministries and agencies, including the Liberia Revenue Authority, the homes of former President Weah and his famous Jamaca Resort along the RIA highway.
Other report indicates that members of the Sabu Unit and VIP Security Network were also infused in the Immigration Service, Fire Service, and the Liberia Seaport Police.
To make matter worse, Tuesday, January 30, 2024, was a classic example of how lazy and unprofessional President Joseph Boakai’s main security detail is when an unknown man attempt choking the President Boakai in broad day light.
President Boakai, January 30 was seen in a live video struggling to release himself from the hands of an unknown individual while greeting executives of the United Methodist University.
The incident occurred when the Liberian leader went to grace the 23rd Graduation of the United Methodist University in Margibi County.
In a video circulating on social media, there appeared to be an unknown individual who came from the back and tried to hold the Liberian leader from his chest which led to a scramble from the President to release himself from the unknown individual.
The Liberian leader was greeting and shaking hands when he got out of his vehicle before the unexpected event occurred.
There is no official statement from the Office of the President as to what unfolded at the UMU graduation program as citizens are questioning the capabilities of security personnel of the Liberian leader.
When contacted, EPS spokesman Philip Moore, told IPNEWS that he could not comment to various concerns by this paper regarding the infiltration of Sabu Unit and VIP Security personnel within the Presidential guard.
Moore stated that the newly appointed Director of the EPS has not been confirmed and could not speak on the matter.
Inquiries further on Tuesday’s security bridge in which the unknown man attempted to attack the President, Moore told IPNEWS that the matter is currently been investigated.
In November 2023, the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) of the United States Treasury sanctioned Monrovia City Mayor and Secretary General of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson Koijee.
The sanctioning of Koijee, which coincides with the upcoming 75th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, was imposed due to his alleged involvement in human rights abuses.
Koijee has been accused of instigating violence and controlling paramilitary-style organizations associated with the CDC. According to OFAC, these groups, which allegedly include former combatants and recently released prisoners, have been involved in violently disrupting demonstrations and opposition activities by government critics.
“Today OFAC designated Jefferson Koijee (Koijee), who is the mayor of Monrovia, Liberia and is a senior leader in the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) political party,” the Treasury Department’s OFAC announcement, released December 8, said. “Koijee has a reputation for stoking violence and has a powerful grip on Monrovia’s youth. He controls paramilitary-style organizations associated with the CDC, which allegedly recruits former combatants and recently released prisoners. OFAC has reason to believe that Koijee has instructed these organizations to violently disrupt demonstrations conducted by government critics or political opposition.”
Moreover, Koijee has been implicated in several instances of violence, including opposition rallies, memorial services, protests, student graduation ceremonies, and other opposition events. Additionally, he has been accused of engaging in corrupt practices such as bribery and misappropriation of state assets for personal political gain.
OFAC sanctioned Koijee under Executive Order 13818, specifically targeting serious human rights abuses and corruption.
As a result of today’s actions, OFAC said, “all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.”
“In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.
“The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.”
Secretary of the Treasury, Janet L. Yellen, reiterated the United States’ dedication to promoting respect for human rights and holding individuals accountable for their actions. Over the past year, more than 150 individuals and entities from various countries have been designated by the Treasury for various offenses, including human rights abuses, terrorism-related activities, repression, transnational repression, and environmental crimes.
In an apparent response to the U.S. sanction, Koijee expressed his unwavering loyalty to the Coalition for Democratic Change and its “blue revolution.” Taking to social media, he posted on his Facebook page, reassuring his supporters that “all is well” and emphasizing his commitment to serving the Liberian people.
