By Sulaiman Jalloh

His Excellency Dr. Julius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone, called on the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) to uphold democracy while serving their nation.

Delivering his keynote address on the day marking the 68th anniversary celebration of the Armed Forces Day in Monrovia, President Bio urged men and women in the Liberian army to uphold democracy, remain above politics and steadfast in their commitment to the Constitution and democratic governance of Liberia. “Uphold the rule of law. Defend constitutional governance. Remain above politics, and let your loyalty be to the people, the Constitution, and the democratic institutions that form the foundation of this great nation,” President Bio admonished AFL officers and the attendees of the occasion.

This year’s Liberia’s armed forces day was celebrated under the theme “Sustainable Peace and Security through Stakeholder’s Engagement: The Role of the Armed Forces”.

President Bio emphasized that the military should remain apolitical, something he said is significant in West Africa, a region where military coups and unconstitutional changes of government have resurfaced in recent years.

Currently, Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, are govern by military junta governments.

Liberia has its own history that should serve as a reminder. In 1980, military coup toppled the Tolbert administration, the subsequent civil wars, and the long struggle to rebuild democratic institutions have cemented a national consensus: military interference in governance is a path to destruction.

President Bio’s message was clear to Liberia’s armed forces. He stressed that they must resist any temptation to be drawn into political disputes.  “History has shown us that when the military aligns with democratic values, nations prosper; when it deviates, societies falter,” the Sierra Leone head of state underscored.

Sierra Leone, like Liberia, has experienced the horrors of war and the painstaking journey to rebuild a nation. In addition, both countries have had civil war experience, running down the regime of ex-President Charles Taylor.

The two countries now share not just a border but a common commitment to democracy and regional security, particularly through the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU).

According to President Maada Bio, a nation where democracy is challenged with division, conflict, instability, the men and women in arm can withstand to safeguard the tenant of democracy. “Be the shield that protects, not the sword that divides.  Be the force that ensures stability, not the one that undermines it,” he admonished the AFL

Beyond Liberia, President Bio also highlighted the role of national armies in ensuring regional peace and stability.