AFL Soldiers Return From Dangerous Peace-keeping Mission

The Platoon size of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) that departed the Country for a peacekeeping mission in Mali has returned home June 2014 via Roberts International Airport (RIA).

The return of the first platoon of Liberian peacekeepers doesn’t end AFL peacekeeping mission in Mali, but brings to an end a year of peacekeeping duty for the first platoon. They are the first postwar peacekeepers who have served in international peacekeeping with distinction, bringing pride to our nation.

We salute them for the job well done, and we want Liberians to know that they have flown the Liberian Flag very high on the international scene. We are very proud of their performance as they have demonstrated to the rest of the world that after years of civil conflict, something good can once again come from Liberia.

Since its deployment to Mali on 23 June 2013, the platoon has over the last 12 months conducted several missions in and out of its area of operations. These missions include escort, vehicle and foot patrols, reconnaissance and other special assignments.

The most critical task undertaken by the AFL in its Peacekeeping duties was to provide security protection for a wide km of areas far beyond its capacity for a period of 42 days after the pulled out of Nigerian Forces. The Platoon was based at Alantona Camp in Diabaly about 340 km Northeast of Bamako.

In line with the administrative mandate towards personnel serving in Peacekeeping, The United Nations (UN) through the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), a Medal Day Parade was held in honor of the Liberian Platoon serving in MINUSMA on 6 June 2014. Hon. Brownie J. Samukai, Jr., Minister of National Defense, and Brig. Gen. Daniel Ziankahn, Chief of Staff, AFL, decorated the personnel. This is the first platoon of AFL personnel to receive UN Medal since the restructuring of the New AFL in 2006.

It can be recalled that on the 23 0f June 2013 the Government of Liberia dispatched a platoon of AFL troops to form part of the African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA)- an Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) organized military mission sent to support the government of ECOWAS member nation Mali against Islamist rebels in Northern Mali.

Meanwhile, on June 26, 2014, a new Infantry Platoon, headed by Captain Ernest A. Appleton, will depart Liberia for Mali. The outgoing Platoon has already completed three (3) months of pre-deployment training at the Armed Forces Training Command in Careysburg.

The pre-deployment training covered all aspect of tasks expected to be conducted during the tour in Mali. It covered medical screening and physical training. The training also covered the following courses: Geo-Politics of Mali, International Humanitarian Law, Introduction to Patrol, Individual Soldier Task, Map Reading/Land Navigation, First Aid, Road block, Cordon and Search, Ambush, VIP Escort, Control of IDPs, Urban Operations, Desert Warfare, Battle Drills, Offensive Operations, and Combat/Operational Stress Control amongst others.

The departure time for the outgoing troops from Monrovia is 8:00 a.m. on June 26, 2014. The farewell ceremony will be conducted at the Roberts International Airport and is expected to begin at 6:45 a.m.

The incoming troops are expected to depart Bamako Airport at 11:10am on the same date and arrive at RIA at 3:00 p. m. The Welcome Ceremony will begin immediately upon their arrival.