Mixture of Ivorians, Burkinabes At Liberian Borders Poses Threat to Security
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Tags: Conflict, Legal Affairs
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The Plenary of the Liberia Senate has endorsed recommendations contained in a report from its Committee on Defense, Security, Intelligence and Veteran Affairs on alleged mercenary activities in Grand Gedeh County.
Plenary is the highest decision making body of the Senate.
It can be recalled that sometimes ago, the Committee was mandated to investigate reports of alleged mercenary activities taking place in the B’Hai Forest based upon a complaint filed by Grand Gedeh County Senator Marshall Dennis.
In his communication, Sen. Marshall alleged that there were reports of hundreds of “armed men” believed to be Burkinabes and Ivorians scarring out illegal farming activities in the county.
But in the report endorsed by Plenary on Tuesday, the committee headed by Lofa County Senator Stephen Zargo reported that Krahn speaking Ivorians mixed with Burkinabes had seized the opportunity to move into Grand Gedeh due to tribal, language and cultural similarities to venture in the forest to agriculture activities.
Those farming activities include the planting of cocoa, rubber and illegal logging.
The report stated that one Kwitee Kennedy, believed to be a Liberian is claiming ownership of the land hosting the migrants.
The report pointed out that most prominent citizens of the county had expressed concern over the involvement of Burkinabes in the planting of long term tree crops and illegal logging in Grand Gedeh without the consent or approval of local authorities or the central government.
According to the report, a classic of a mixture of Ivorians and Burkinabes in a terrain close to the border could be a recipe for a looming security threat and as such, Grand Gedeans have expressed serious concern that their kinsmen could be arrested.
Meanwhile, the committee has recommended that the Liberian government continues its diplomatic engagement with the Ivorian government to resolve encroachment on the country’s territory.
The Committee also wants the Liberian government to subsidize local dwellers to engage into economic activities after the land being occupied by the migrants is retrieved.
The committee also called for budgetary allocation to be made for security occupational activities in all border areas in the country.
“Grand Gedeans are concerned that at most times their kinsmen are accused of cross border incursion in Ivory Coast. A classic example being the recent conviction that was upheld by the Supreme Court; therefore considering that the situation in neighboring Ivory Coast is said to be fragile according to intelligence; a mixture of Ivorians and Burkinabes in such a terrain close to the border could be a recipe for a looming security threat. The Grand Gedeh Legislative Caucus should remain engage with the process and those during either their Legislative sitting or, major gathering in the county, make it an agenda item and keep the Legislature informed of unfolding events so as to determine our next course of action,” the report amongst other things stated.
By Obediah Johnson
