Liberian defence chiefs visit

Top Liberian defence officials arrived in the country Sunday for an official visit based on defence cooperation between the two countries. The visitors, including, Liberian Minister of National Defence, Brownie Samukai Jnr and Command Officer-In-Charge (COIC) of the country’s new army, Nigerian Maj. Gen. Suraj Alao Abdurrahman, were received by senior defence officials at Kigali International Airport. According to Army Spokesman Maj. Jill Rutaremara, the visitors were received by the Defence Minister, Gen. Marcel Gatsinzi and Air Force Chief of Staff, Lt. Gen. Charles Muhire. “We have got cooperation on defence issues and their visit comes following our earlier visit to Liberia,” Maj.Rutaremara said in a phone interview. Post conflict Liberia has, since 2005, been engaged in efforts to rebuild its army - the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). Rutaremara stressed that the visits were not new since the two countries’ military establishments earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding in the framework of defence cooperation. In the interim buildup period, Liberian President Johnson-Sirleaf decided that a Nigerian officer would act as the COIC of the new army. Maj. Gen. Abdurrahman succeeded Lieutenant General Luka Yusuf, in June 2007. Yusuf, also Nigerian, had been posted back home as Chief of Army Staff. Rwandan military officials have also visited Liberia before.“Their major interest, having disbanded their earlier army, is our help in military training,” Rutaremara said, adding that apart from meeting both Ministry of Defence and Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) Headquarter leadership, they will also visit military training institutions, among others. Ends