Pres. Joseph Boakai on Thursday visited the Edward Binyah Kesselly (EBK) Military Barracks following a fire outbreak that displaced several soldiers’ families and destroyed personal property.
“The Army people know their boundaries, and they know what land belongs to them. God is not making new lands. The soldiers are entitled to their place,” President Boakai said.
The president made the remarks while visiting families affected by a recent fire outbreak at the AFL Barracks along the Robertsfield Highway, where several housing units were damaged and residents displaced.
His comments came amid mounting reports that residents living in communities surrounding the military installation had been instructed to vacate areas allegedly considered part of AFL property.
The reports have generated anxiety among residents, many of whom say they have lived in the affected communities for years and have made significant investments in homes and businesses.
Land ownership and usage around military installations in Liberia have long been sensitive issues, often involving overlapping claims, weak documentation, and informal settlements that expanded during and after the civil war.
President Boakai did not confirm whether formal eviction notices had been issued but emphasized that the AFL is guided by clearly demarcated boundaries and existing legal frameworks governing land tenure.
He suggested that any action taken by the military would be based on established land records and not arbitrary decisions or unilateral expansion.
“The soldiers are entitled to their place,” the president reiterated, underscoring what he described as the need to respect both national security requirements and civilian rights.
The visit to the AFL Barracks was primarily to assess the impact of the fire incident and to sympathize with affected families, according to officials accompanying the president.
During the visit, President Boakai encouraged authorities to provide immediate assistance to victims of the fire and to ensure that displaced residents receive temporary shelter and basic relief.
Civil society groups and community leaders have meanwhile called on the government to provide clarity on the situation, urging transparent communication to prevent misinformation and panic.
They have also appealed for dialogue between the AFL, local authorities, and affected residents to address land disputes peacefully.
