The hierarchy of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has unveiled plans to recruit and train 650 new personnel by February 2026.
The Ministry of National Defense (MoD) has meanwhile, described the plan as “critical to strengthen” country’s security apparatus.
Deputy Defense Minister for Administration, Augustine Larmin, made the disclosure on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, when he appeared at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing in Monrovia.
Larmin said the new intake is intended to boost AFL’s manpower, and also improve professionalism as part of broader reforms to modernize the military.
“This exercise is crucial to strengthening the capacity of our army.”
“We want to make sure the AFL continues to stand as a disciplined, professional, and representative of national force for good.”
The recruitment drive will be opened to applicants from all 15 counties, with clear educational, physical, and moral standards set as requirements.
Officials have also promised transparency, merit-based selection and inclusivity in the process.
Despite the pledge, analysts and civil society organizations are raising red flags about the timing and credibility of the exercise.
Liberia has long faced allegations of nepotism and favoritism in public sector hiring, but critics warned that the AFL recruitment could fall prey to the same “political interference.”
Others point to country’s ongoing economic struggles, questioning whether the government has the financial capacity to train, equip and sustain such a large number of new recruits within less than two years.
“The AFL needs to expand, but we must be careful not to repeat past mistakes where numbers were prioritized over quality and sustainability,” a security expert cautioned.
“Without adequate budgetary support, the army risks overextension,” another remarked.
Since its restructuring in 2006 with international support, the AFL has earned the reputation of “professionalism, and role as a unifying national institution.”
It has participated in international peacekeeping missions, a notable achievement for a force once associated with country’s brutal civil conflicts.
However, critics argue that while the AFL has made gains in discipline and training, it continues to struggle with logistical and operational shortfalls.
Border security, mobility, and infrastructure remain major weaknesses that cannot be solved by manpower increases alone.
“To add 650 personnel is a positive step, but without the right resources, and long-term planning, we risk swelling the ranks without fixing the systemic problems,” one civil society leader said.
The MoD insists that the recruitment is part of a carefully structured plan to modernize the defense sector.
Yet, skepticism persists over whether the government can meet its ambitious target by February 2026.
For many Liberians, the AFL remains a source of national pride. But as the recruitment deadline approaches, the question remains whether this initiative will produce a stronger, and more credible defense force or whether it risks becoming another unfulfilled promise in the nation’s long struggle to build a reliable security system.