President Joseph Nyuma Boakai told the affected residents at the 72nd
Military Barracks in Paynesville that the land belongs to the army.
Hear him: “God is not making new land. This land is for the army. They are going to take it back and recondition the facilities.”
Pres. Boakai made the statement claiming to have extinguished the hopes of 72nd eviction victims.
He declared in blunt terms that the disputed property belongs to the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and will be reclaimed and developed.
The President’s position comes amid growing public outcry, and appeals from displaced occupants, who have called on the government to intervene in a “deeply painful and unresolved land crisis involving properties allegedly owned by the AFL.”
On Thursday, February 5, 2026, Boakai spoke during an interview with Executive Mansion reporters at the Edward Beyan Kesselly Military Barracks in Margibi County.
He noted: “God is not making new lands. This is one of the things we have to fix in this country.”
Boakai stressed that ministries and agencies must not only operate offices, but also know, secure, and defend their assets.
He added that the AFL bears responsibility for clearly marking its boundaries to avoid future disputes.
While the President insisted that legal processes exist to determine land ownership and boundaries, “the government is cognizant of avoiding chaos between the army and the people.”
As bulldozers erase communities and families count their losses, critics argue that government’s failure to act early has once again left ordinary Liberians paying the price for state neglect, weak land governance and delayed enforcement.
Source: Michael N. Baryor/Insights Liberia