By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia, April 16, 2026 – The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) plan to recruit new personnel appears to be falling behind schedule due to difficulties in securing the requested US$4 million needed for the process, which was originally expected to begin in January this year.
On the 69th Armed Forces Day, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai announced a series of major policy initiatives to strengthen the Armed Forces of Liberia. Key among them were the annual recruitment of 600 personnel beginning in 2026, expanded barracks renovations, improved mental health support, and increased gender inclusion within the military.
Reports suggest that the AFL requested approximately US$4 million in the 2026 national budget to support the recruitment of new personnel, along with related expansion and readiness programs, as part of the government’s plan to increase troop strength beginning this year.
However, the process has faced repeated delays. By February 2026, the Ministry of National Defense said recruitment was pending the release of funding from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, confirming that the exercise had already fallen behind its intended start date.
On April 13, 2026, President Boakai submitted a draft supplementary budget of US$45 million to the National Legislature for enactment. Within that supplementary budget, only US$600,000 was allocated to the Ministry of Defense for AFL recruitment and equipment.
Sources close to the Ministry of National Defense indicated that US$500,000 would cover only preliminary processes, including vetting, while the remaining US$100,000 would be insufficient to significantly advance the exercise.
Authorities have argued that under the approved FY2026 National Budget, the AFL received an allotment of US$18.3 million out of the US$20.7 million allocated to the Ministry of National Defense, which could potentially support recruitment. However, more than US$12.7 million of that amount reportedly covers salaries.
There are growing calls for the Government of Liberia to prioritize strengthening the military’s capacity, with many observers arguing that the AFL’s current state does not reflect the needs of a modern 21st-century nation.
Recent border tensions with Guinea have further highlighted these concerns. In March 2026, Guinean soldiers crossed into territory claimed by Liberia near Sorlumba in Foya District, halted roadwork, seized equipment, and raised Guinea’s flag, prompting diplomatic intervention. The incident underscored the urgency of training and equipping the AFL.
In a related development, a US$20 million equipment package earmarked for the AFL, a major logistics support contribution donated by the African Union to strengthen Liberia’s military capacity and regional peacekeeping readiness, has reportedly faced serious setbacks.
The package was publicly announced in October 2024. The equipment had originally been donated to the African Union by China and stored at the AU Continental Logistics Base in Douala before being reassigned to Liberia.
In early 2025, delivery was delayed because Liberia needed to provide transportation costs estimated between US$1.3 million and US$1.4 million. Later reports suggested that the government had paid the required amount to facilitate the shipment.
The package is considered one of the most significant non-cash military support contributions received by Liberia in recent years and a major boost to modernization efforts, following years of limited equipment after the civil war.
However, sources now claim that due to delays in settling outstanding costs, Cameroon is seeking to retain part of the equipment, contrary to the original reassignment to Liberia. The AFL High Command has yet to provide an official update on the machinery’s status.
