The Liberian government has handed over crucial national responsibilities, like vehicle registration and issuing driver’s licenses, to a Lebanese firm named Liberia Traffic Management (LTM), which is now facing serious allegations of strong ties to Hezbollah, a terrorist group.
Hezbollah is a Shia Islamist terrorist group that originated in Lebanon during the 1980s, with backing from Iran. Over the years, it has grown into a significant player in Lebanese politics. It has participated in various conflicts, including the Lebanese Civil War and skirmishes with Israel. Its ideology is deeply rooted in Shia Islam, and it has been known to receive both financial and military support from Iran. Several countries, including the United States, Canada, and Israel, have labeled Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. The group has been implicated in numerous militant activities, including attacks on Israeli and Western targets. Hezbollah’s actions have sparked considerable debate, with some people viewing it as a legitimate political entity while others regard it as a terrorist group. The organization’s involvement in regional conflicts and its ties to Iran have been particularly contentious.
The decision by Liberia to outsource its citizens’ data privacy to LTM, which is allegedly linked to a terrorist organization, has heightened alarms about national security. LTM will be responsible for handling critical personal information and sensitive documents. Senator Momo Tarnuekollie Cyrus, who chairs the Senate Committee on Defense, Security, Intelligence, and Veteran Affairs, has criticized this decision, calling it a “gross misjudgment” that carries significant economic, sovereign, and security risks.
The concession agreement, which received strong support from Liberia’s Justice Minister Oswald Tweh, Transport Minister Sirleaf Tyler, and Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman states that LTM will keep a whopping 70% of all revenue generated from licensing and registration services, leaving just 30% for Liberia. This deal lacks any provisions for minimum payments, profit caps, or revenue escalators, leading to concerns about its fairness and sustainability. The transition has also made the Ministry of Transport nearly obsolete, displacing over 200 Liberians and reducing the role of the Liberia National Police. This wave of redundancies adds to the 107 employees who were unlawfully dismissed a year ago.
Today’s protest at the Ministry of Transport brings together those 107 dismissed workers and the more than 200 recently laid-off employees due to the risky LTM contract. They gathered to voice their concerns about jeopardizing the country’s national security by handing over control to a terrorist group, warning of unspecified consequences if the contract isn’t canceled. The protesters claimed that the LTM head is a presidential aspirant in the upcoming Hezbollah elections, posing a serious national security threat. They vowed not to leave the streets until they are immediately reinstatement. Just a week ago, they faced brutal treatment from the Liberia National Police, acting on orders from Minister Sirleaf Tyler, who claimed they never had permit to protest for the reinstatement.
Despite their ongoing appeals and formal complaints, the CSA has yet to look into their concerns. The employees allege they were wrongfully let go by Minister Sirleaf Tyler, who pointed to an “overheated payroll” and a lack of thorough vetting during their hiring back in 2019. This situation isn’t unique; the Joe Boakai administration has faced backlash for letting go of civil servants who are seen as supporters of the opposition. Similar layoffs have taken place across various government bodies, including the Monrovia City Corporation, the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs, and the Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Finance, among others. Critics argue that these moves threaten democratic governance and hint at a worrying drift toward authoritarianism.
Former Auditor General John Morlu has spoken out against the government’s actions, asserting that these dismissals showcase poor governance and a lack of respect for fair treatment of Liberians. Morlu stresses the importance of having laws that regulate appointments and promote fair practices, along with a commitment to job creation instead of politically driven firings. The employees who were let go now find themselves without income, pushing them into unemployment and worsening the economic struggles facing the country.
