Monrovia, Tuesday August 16, 2022: The Liberian Government through the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms officially launched the African Union Amnesty Month: “Silencing the Guns” Project. The Initiative is an African Union-United Nations joint support for African countries, managed by the United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs (UNODA) with technical assistance from the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) and funded by the German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO). The official launch was graced by several high-profiled government officials as well as members of the diplomatic Corps, Civil Society Organizations and the media.

Hon. Jefferson S. Kanmoh, National Security Advisor in the Office of the President of the Republic of Liberia delivered the Keynote address and officially launched the September 2022 AU Amnesty Month Project on Silencing the Guns on behalf of the President of the Republic of Liberia. In his statement, Hon. Kanmoh, expressed appreciation to the Government of Germany, the African Union, the United Nations and the Regional Centre on Small Arms (RECSA) for selecting Liberia along with two other African countries to include Togo and Tanzania as beneficiaries of the September 2022 Africa Amnesty Month initiative.

The National Security Advisor recounted the gains Liberia has made towards the effective control of arms since the establishment of the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms, and called on the leadership of the Commission to continue to work assiduously in securing an armed violence free and peaceful election in October 2023.

He highlighted that Liberia has continue to sustain its peace and stability under the leadership of His Excellency President George Manneh Weah.

Speaking further on behalf of His Excellency President Weah, Hon, Kanmoh revealed that the Government of Liberia will grant full amnesty to all civilians in possession of illegal firearms to voluntarily turn over to the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms or the Liberia National Police during the amnesty period without fear of arrest, disclosure, harassment or prosecution. He called on all citizens and other nationals residing within the borders of Liberia to continue to make Liberia safe and peaceful by the voluntary surrender of illegal firearms during the September 2022 Africa Amnesty Month period commencing from August 16 to December 31, 2022.

Also making a special statement at the official launch of the September 2022 Africa Amnesty Month initiative, H.E. the German Ambassador Dr. Jakob Haselhuber acknowledged the efforts of the United Nations, African Union, RECSA and the Liberia Government through the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms for organizing the timely initiative. He stressed that the launch of the African Union Amnesty Month ‘Silencing the Guns”, comes at a crucial moment when both public and individual safety and the security of Liberia has been challenged by unfortunate developments in neighboring countries.

The German Ambassador underscored that when illegal weapons are in circulation, the temptation to use them is huge, emphasizing that when individuals are carrying weapons, they feel powerful, and State Actors share the responsibility to prevent future tension by contributing to the reduction of misuse of firearms. He noted that the Federal Republic of Germany has played and continue to play a prominent role in advancing the control and regulation of firearms worldwide.

Mr. Jaiming Miao, of UNODA who participated via zoom thanked the African Union for the commitment to silence the Guns and end armed violence by 2030. Emphasizing the importance of the African Amnesty Month initiative, Mr. Miao said, Silencing the Guns will help to reduce ownership of illicit small arms and light weapons in Africa. 

Mr. Miao emphasized that the proper management of state-owned weapons and the licensing of civilians owned arms will enhance regional peace and security and further pledged the United Nations on Disarmament Affairs commitment to support interested African Countries to benefit from the Africa Amnesty Month initiative.

For his part, the Chairman of the Small Arms Commission of Liberia Atty. Teklo Maxwell Grigsby II, said most of the work done by the Commissions across Africa on arms control would not have been possible without the support of the German and United States governments. Chairman Grigsby said these two countries among many others; continue to support the work of the Commission. Chairman Grigsby also highlighted the enormous contribution of ECOWAS and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to the work of the Commission.

Chairman Grigsby sounded a caveat to those who are hostile and notoriously violating the Firearm law in Liberia. He said that Liberia government in 2012 established the National Commission Small Arms as the national competent authority in collaboration with Liberia National Police for the issuance of licenses and permits with the approval of the National Security Advisor to the President.

Chairman Grigsby emphasized that the September 2022 Africa Amnesty Month commencing from August 16 to December 2022 in Liberia is about creating an ambience for individuals in possession of illegal firearms to voluntary turn over their guns without fear of persecution and punishment up to December, 2022.

Providing an overview of the 17^th African Amnesty Month project, Madam Vivian D. Dogbey, Coordinator of the Liberia National Commission on Small Arms explained that African Union Member States met in 2013 with the aim to silence the guns by 2020 to end civil crisis and arms violence in Africa. Madam Dogbey explained further that in 2017, the African Union declared the Month of September each year as Amnesty Month for the holding of “Silencing the Guns” initiative in Member States. The AU called on member states to grant amnesty to all individuals in possession of illegal firearms to voluntarily surrender to designated governments institutions without fear of prosecution, harassment or arrest.

The AU-UN joint support Project intends to improve public safety by sensitizing the Community on their obligation to voluntarily surrender illegally acquired arms as well as promote the registration and licensing of firearms in the possession of Civilians.

The project primary objective calls for the engagement of opinion leaders, county authorities and professionals drawn from the communities to develop increased partnership activities and multi-disciplinary relationship to foster more contributions to the public decision-making process in matters of eradication of illicit firearms towards silencing the guns in Africa.

The Coordinator informed the audience that the Liberian component of the project is expected to be implemented in several communities in four counties, namely: Montserrado, Sinoe, Lofa and Bong. She outlined that the national objectives of the project include, improvement of public safety by sensitizing the communities on obligations to voluntarily surrender illegally acquired arms, the registration and licensing of firearms in the possession of civilians and the strengthening of community relationship with the police by the conduct of series of community policing trainings in Lofa, Bong, Montserrado and Sinoe counties.