Commissioner Dogbey and the Gender Director  Participates In Key Gender Workshop In Paris" The Liberia National Commission on Arms (LiNCA), is participating in a two day "Train the Trainers" Gender Workshop from November 20th, to the 21st in Paris, France. Representing the Arms Commission at the workshop, Commissioner Dogbey accompanied by the Director of Gender, Madam Blessing Bornor Jallah, is in Paris to participate and provide expert advisory service on gender-based violence.  The workshop organized by Expertise France, is intended to address compliance with the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) provisions related to gender-based violence.  Liberia's commitment to international and regional agreements like the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT) and the UN Programme on Action (PoA) on small arms and light weapons, emphasize the need to consider gender dimension in arms control which is reflective in the structure of the Arms Commission with Atty Vivian Darlue Dogbey serving as one of its Commissioners.  Commissioner Dogbey's public statements have connected her personal experience of the Liberian civil war's devastating impact to her professional dedication to arms control, providing a powerful gender-aware perspective on issues.  Gender as one of LiNCA's priorities, the Commission has ensured several training programs for state security institutions mainstreaming gender giving women the opportunity to participate in arms control across our national security sector.

LiNCA official kick out on Civilian Arms Registration Exercise in Bong County, Gbarnga

Bomi County Engagement  The Executive Director and Team Head, Mr. Moses K. Yebleh, made further contact with county authorities for engagement meetings before the team departed Monrovia for Bomi County. Due to the bereavement of the Superintendent and her absence, the team was received by the CFO, Mr.Varney Alieu Dorley, and other members of the County administration and the head of the County Service Center. The team was officially welcomed at the Administrative Building, official introductions were mad by members of the County’s Local authority, Security apparatus Heads, and local stakeholders. In response, the Executive Director, Mr. Moses K. Yebleh, formally introduced the team members and communicated the main objectives of the team’s mission. As part of the engagement process, awareness messages were adequately delivered and presented by the team head assisted by James Wellington Tarpeh and Alimamine S. Kemokai. The message centered on: ?    The significant of Civilian Arms Registration Exercise  ?    The assurance of the Executive Order # 141 by H.E Joseph N. Boakai  ?    The Regulation # 5: Procedures and Steps to obtain firearms License/ Permit  ?    The roles of the local authorities, CSO and joint security within the County ?    Eligibility etc. Information about the actual registration exercise, proposed sites, and commitment from local authorities was emphasized. The deliberation proceeded with a questions and answers session, where many questions including those from the FAQs, were addressed by the team head and members.  

OFFICIAL STATEMENT ON OPERATIONALIZING THE REGISTRATION OF CIVILIAN ARMS IN FULFILLMENT OF EXECUTIVE ORDER #141 Delivered at the MICAT Weekly Briefing  By: Hon. James M. Fromayan Chairman, Liberia National Commission on Arms  May 15, 2025 Honorable Minister, Officials of the Ministry of Information, Distinguished Members of the Fourth Estate, Fellow Liberians at Home and Abroad:  It is both an honor and a duty that I stand before you today to provide critical updates on the activities of   the Liberia National Commission   on Arms, particularly in relation to   the implementation of Executive Order #141, issued by His Excellency, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, on February 24, 2025, mandating the registration of all civilian-owned firearms across the Republic.  Let me begin by extending sincere gratitude to President Boakai for the confidence reposed in us to steer this vital national institution.  I also thank the Honorable Minister of Information and the MICAT team for the opportunity to appear on this national platform to address the Liberian people on a matter of paramount importance to our national security. Background and Legislative  Framework As many of you are aware, the Liberia National Commission on Arms—formerly known as the Small Arms Commission—was established in 2012 in alignment with Article 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.  This Convention aims to curb the growing threat posed by the uncontrolled proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALWs) across the subregion.  At that time, an alarming rise in violence fueled by the wave of armed conflicts in the  Mano River Union (MRU) basin and other parts of the ECOWAS region, posed a serious threat to regional peace and security.   Liberia, still reeling from the devastating effects of a 14-year civil conflict?largely fueled by the   availability of illicit small arms and   light weapons?was particularly vulnerable.  That dark chapter in our history remains a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by unchecked access to firearms.  With strong backing from ECOWAS, the United Nations, and other regional and international  partners, the Government of Liberia acted decisively to prevent a recurrence of such conflict by establishing mechanisms for arms control. Our commitment to international norms was demonstrated through the signing and ratification of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).    Going beyond symbolic   endorsements, Liberia has   successfully domesticated these instruments, integrating their principles into our legal frameworks—most notably through the Arms Commission Act and the Firearms and Ammunition Control Act, originally enacted in 2015 and comprehensively amended in 2022. These legal frameworks empower the Commission to regulate the full life cycle of weapons and ammunition—covering   importation, manufacturing,   trading, possession, usage, and   the destruction of obsolete and excess firearms in collaboration with state security institutions.  Achievements in Managing State-Owned Arms I am pleased to report that the Arms Commission, in collaboration with state security agencies, has made measurable progress in the   management of state-owned   firearms.    Key achievements include:  Marking and digital recording of state-owned weapons for easy tracing; Routine assessments and inspections of state armories for compliance with stockpile management protocols; Specialized training programs for armory managers and technical security personnel. Retrieval of seized and obsolete weapons from around the country.  These   initiatives are in line with international best   practices for   physical security and accountability of state-held arms. The Challenge of Civilian Firearms and the Significance of Executive Order #141 Despite these accomplishments, the unregulated proliferation of civilian-held firearms remains a critical challenge.  Alarmingly, many of these firearms are acquired through illegal means, and the country lacks an accurate record of how many such weapons are currently in circulation. Against the backdrop of rising security concerns and public demand for self-defense, Executive Order #141 is both timely and strategic.  It provides: An amnesty period that conforms to the life span of the Executive Order for civilians who currently own firearms illegally, offering them a chance to register and legalize those arms through the appropriate procedures; A clear legal pathway to responsible gun ownership, ensuring that firearms in civilian hands are properly documented, tracked, and regulated. Let me stress: this amnesty window expires in February 2026. After this deadline, anyone found in possession of an unregistered firearm will be subject to the full force of the law—including a felony charge of the first degree, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.