Monrovia – The United States embassy in Monrovia says it has received no information to corroborate a recent report attributed to Liberian government sources suggesting a foiled terror attack on the US diplomatic mission in Liberia.
Report by Lennart Dodoo, ldodoo@frontpageafricaonline.com
Responding to a FrontPageAfrica inquiry, an embassy statement said: “The U. S. Embassy has received no information to corroborate the information suggested in the article”.
A report in a local daily last week triggered a wave of speculations surrounding a purported attack on the US embassy in Monrovia.
The New Democrat report suggested that Liberia’s security agencies had arrested several persons in connection to a planned terrorist attack on the US embassy. The alleged attack, according to the report was intended to bomb the embassy on July 4, during the celebration of the US 242nd independence anniversary while President George Manneh Weah, his wife, First Lady Clar Weah, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia were in attendance along with more than 1,000 Liberians and foreign dignitaries.
According to the report, the National Security Agency (NSA) On July 4, 2018 arrested three brothers namely, Mamadou Barry, Oumar Barry and Abubakar Barry. The Barry brothers alleged to be the masterminds of the foiled terror strike are reportedly facing multiple criminal offenses including terrorism, economic sabotage and money laundering.
The three suspects with purported Malian links were reportedly arrested and jailed on July 6, 2018, at the Monrovia Central Prison on the orders of Magistrate J. Kennedy Peabody of the Monrovia City Court.
All two major security agencies – the Liberia National Police and the National Security Agency(NSA)have failed to confirmed or deny the report although the report stated the as part of the charges, NSA through a writ of arrest alleged that on several occasions up to including April 2018, in the city of Monrovia, the defendants with wicked and criminal intent to sabotage the economy, engaged in the illegal transfers of money the country and that Liberian security agents are in possession of the devices, including suicide belts, which the men would have used in the execution of their mission.
Security in Monrovia has been tight since the inauguration of President George George Manneh Weah with numerous checkpoints mounted around the city during peak evening hours.
It is unclear why the administration appears to be investing so much insecurity but President Weah recently told a European Union Summit in Brussels that Liberia is facing terror threats due to the presence of the country’s troops in Mali.
Currently, members of the Liberian army are part of a 3,300-strong West African force, supported by France and other Western powers to combat jihadist fighters from Sudan and Western Sahara that have reinforced the radical Islamist rebels controlling northern Mali. The President was clear during EU summit speech that Liberia could face retaliatory attacks from sympathizers of terrorist organizations who are in support of their war against humanity.
Diplomatic observers are hoping that the denial from the US embassy will go a long way in allaying fears of terrorism ricocheting
In recent years, the US has committed itself to work with African partners to rid the continent and the world of terrorism by addressing the drivers of conflict that lead to radicalization and recruitment but most of those collaborations are made through joint press packets.
In April 2017, both the US and British embassies in Abuja expressed appreciation when Nigeria’s spy agency declared that it had thwarted a plot by militant Islamist group Boko Haram to attack the UK and US embassies in the capital Abuja.
A UK government spokesman said: “We are grateful for the support we receive from the Nigerian security authorities in protecting UK diplomatic staff and premises in Nigeria. We are in regular contact with the Nigerian security authorities concerning potential threats to UK interests in Nigeria.”
The US embassy in Abuja said it appreciated the DSS’s efforts in “fighting terrorism”, and the US and Nigeria had a “strong partnership in countering violent extremism”.
In the case of the Liberia report, there was immediate confirmation from the US embassy regarding the arrest and report of a foiled attempt to bomb the US embassy in Monrovia.
The US works closely with a multinational Joint Task Force – created by Nigeria, Niger, Chad, Benin, and Cameroon – along with the Group of Five Sahel nations, or the G5 – Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, and Niger – to pool expertise and resources.
Former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced last October that the United States would contribute more to these regional efforts. We committed up to $60 million toward the G5’s counterterrorism efforts – to enable them to train and equip members of the Joint Force and counter terrorist propaganda throughout these communities.
