March 24, 2025 SALUTATION Today marks a very significant era in Liberia as it relates to the safety and security of broad spectrum of our people. As we all are aware, Liberia endured fourteen (14) years of painful civil crisis that took away over 200,000 precious lives of its citizens and aliens alike and destroyed infrastructure nation-wide. The guns of war in Liberia became silent in 2003 followed by the disarmament of former combatants in 2004. Although disarmament of warring factions anywhere in the world is never 100%, ours was one those that was done in a rush with limited time for demobilization. As a result, few arms were turned over by all the former combatants with the rest concealed by their owners. That made illicit arms in the country a big problem that pose a threat to national security. The proliferation of illicit Small Arms and Light Weapons in the ECOWAS sub-region made the sub-regional body to encourage member states to establish Commissions on Small Arms and Light Weapons. The essence of those Commissions is to combat the illicit proliferation of such weapons. That call by ECOWAS led to the birth of the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms and Light Weapons which was changed in 2022 by a new Act of the Legislature creating the Liberia National Commission on Arms. The new nomenclature came as a result of Liberia’s ratification of the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). The Commission now deals with Conventional Arms and Ammunitions. Our gathering here today is a reaffirmation of the fact that there are arms and ammunitions in the hands of some of our compatriots and aliens without proper documentations. It is against that backdrop that the Commission on Arms in consultation with the office of the National Security Advisor pleaded with His Excellency, Joseph N. Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia to allow the Commission to spear head the registration of Civilian Arms. On February 24, 2025, President Boakai issued Executive Order # 141 urging all those civilians in possession of arms to register them so that there may be a national data base indicating names of those legally bearing arms. With the issuance of the Executive Order, LiNCA held series of meetings with the relevant state security entities to discuss the way forward. Those discussions also took into account the various fees associated with the registration process. The Commission is pleased today to begin the registration process. This exercise will not be restricted to Montserrado county alone. LiNCA intends to begin operations in other parts of the country with the availability logistics. There are two categories of civilian arms that will be registered. The first is shoulder-fired single/double barrel rifle for hunting, traditional ceremonies, game or recreation. The second category is 1.6mm – 9x19mm (rounds) for special need citizens. Let the word go forth that LiNCA will not be selling arms or ammunitions. That is not part of our responsibility. There are people who have expressed interest to be dealers. When qualified by the Commission, they will import arms and ammunitions for sale. With that said, I on behalf of the Board and staff of LiNCA declare the civilian arms registration opened.
