IPNEWS: The House of Representatives Concurs with the Liberian Senate on the Passage of the Act to establish the Liberia National Commission on Arms and Amendments to the Firearms and Ammunition Control Act (FACA) of 2015.

(Monrovia, Liberia July 21, 2022) The House of Representatives has unanimously concurred with the honorable Liberian Senate for the amendment of the “Act establishing the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms-LiNCSA” to expand its mandate beyond Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) to all conventional arms thus establishing the “Liberia National Commission on Arms -LiNCA”.

The Honorable House of Representatives also unanimously passed the “Act to amend the Firearms and Ammunition Control Act of 2015” to domesticate the United Nations Global Arms Trade Treaty (ATT), an instrument regulating the trade and transfer of conventional arms.

The concurrence on both Acts (Arms Control laws) was followed by a series of consultations with the House Committees Chair on National Security, Hon. Alfred G. Koiwood, Judiciary, Hon. Cllr. A Kanie Wesso all of Gbarpolu County and Defense, Hon. Jimmy Smith of Montserrado County.

The Liberia National Commission on Small Arms conveys its appreciation to the Hon. Deputy Speaker/ Acting Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa of Grand Kru County and Hon. Vincent S.T. Willie of Grand Bassa County for timely concurrence of both amended Acts.

The Passage of the amended Acts to include, including the Act establishing the Liberia National Commission on Arms-LiNCA and the Firearms and Ammunition Control Act of 2015 sets the pace for Liberia to continue its leading role to regulate the trade, transfer, possession, manufacture and use of all conventional arms including Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) within the ECOWAS Sub-region.

The passage of these Acts has made Liberia the third country within West Africa including Burkina Faso and Niger to domesticate the United Nations ATT.

The domestication of the only binding UN treaty on the trade and transfer of conventional arms will further restore confidence in the integrity of the Government of Liberia and attract additional support from the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty Secretariat through its Voluntary Trust Fund (VTF), other UN Organs, Regional and International Partners.

The Commission extends appreciation to His Excellency Amb. George Manneh Weah, Sr.

President of the Republic of Liberia for his continuous support towards the improvement of Arms Control and ensuring full compliance of all national, regional and international instruments on Arms control.

The Commission states that the singular act of the President of Liberia to submit both Acts for amendment to the National Legislature demonstrates strong political will to ensure effective management of weapons, ammunition, explosives and other related materials within and across the borders of Liberia and the West African Sub-Region.

The Commission further extends appreciation to its partners to include ECOWAS Commission, European Union (EU) and German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) for their support to the project Organized Crime: West Africa Response to Trafficking Project (OCWAR-T), which facilitated series of stakeholders consultations around the proposed amendments; United Nations Development Program (UNDP), African Union (AU), Expertise France for technical support through international consultants, United Nations Institute for Development Research (UNIDIR), Regional Center on Small Arms (RECSA), United Nations Office on Disarmament Affairs (UNODA), United States Embassy and British Embassy accredited near Monrovia, Development Partners as well as National Security Agencies, Civil Society Organizations and the Media.

The Commission assures the people of Liberia that it will continue to fairly, transparently, and impartially administer the arms control legislations governing the trade, transfer, brokerage, manufacturing, possession and use of all conventional arms in all its aspects in the best interest in sustaining peace and security of the Republic of Liberia and the West African Sub-region.