Reports from Liberia say troops of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and the Emergency Response Unit (ERU) of the Liberia National Police assigned at B’hai Town on the Liberian border with Cote d’Ivoire have appealed to government for logistical supplies and food. They have also expressed unhappiness over the manner in which they are being treated by the authorities.
Speaking to some Liberian journalists recently on condition of anonymity, the AFL soldiers alleged that they had not received their stipend for two months.
ERU officers have complained of lack of their regular supply of food items for the last two months. They also complained of broken vehicles, a situation they say has made regular border patrols “extremely difficult” for them and they had to rely on UN Police for support. A source at the UN Mission in Liberia has confirmed to Politico that their personnel have had to lift Liberian police officers on the border but declined to comment on their situation.
However Police spokesperson, George Bardue said that situation at the border concerning patrol vehicles and food items had been taken care of.
Meanwhile residents in the Liberian border communities in Grand Gedeh County have deserted their villages owing to the continued attacks by insurgents against the Ivorian military turning the areas into ghost towns.
The youth leader of B’hai Jozon Town, Victor Dennis said the recent attack on two army checkpoints in western Cote d’Ivoire near the town of Toulepleu, forced dozens of people to flee the area.
Before last week’s attack on the Ivorian military, the population of the B’hai Jozon Town was over 800 but fewer than 50 are said to now remain.
Last week, Defense Minister Brownie Samukai confirmed there had been exchange of gunfire between Ivorian military and dissident forces 100 miles away from Liberian territory. He said the attack by the dissidents on the army position had been quelled by the Ivorian military.
