Lawyers representing two Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) sergeants who were dismissed after a viral video showed one of them allegedly assaulting a young woman are demanding their immediate reinstatement. The law firm Kailondo & Associates argued that the October 21 discharge of Sergeants Abu S.B. Sheriff and Robert Menyon was unlawful because the soldiers were allegedly dismissed without a formal investigation, hearing, or opportunity to respond to the allegations.
The lawyers sent a letter dated October 27, 2026, to Acting Minister of National Defense Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, requesting that the Defense Ministry reverse the decision, reinstate the two former soldiers, and restore their salaries, privileges, and pension contributions. They also requested a formal, confidential, and impartial investigation into the incident should the authorities wish to pursue disciplinary action.
According to the letter, the two sergeants served the Liberian military for more than 18 years and maintained clean service records before their discharge. The firm argued that their dismissal violated Article 20(a) of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution, which protects individuals against deprivation of their rights and privileges without due process of law.
The lawyers also invoked Article 21(h) of the Constitution, which guarantees the presumption of innocence until guilt is established beyond a reasonable doubt. They argued that the military’s public action against the soldiers effectively punished them before a formal determination of their alleged misconduct.
The viral video that triggered the military action showed an altercation involving a soldier and a young woman identified as Blessing. According to Blessing’s account, the incident began when soldiers pursued a group of boys who were playing football in their community, and she intervened and pleaded with the soldiers to leave her brother alone.
AFL Chief of Staff Major General Davidson F. Forleh condemned the soldiers’ alleged conduct, describing them as “bad apples” within the military. Following the dismissals, the two men were publicly presented, and Forleh reportedly instructed the Liberia National Police to handcuff them and directed that their families leave the AFL barracks.
The legal challenge does not dispute the need for the military to address allegations of misconduct by its personnel, but argues that accountability must be pursued within the framework of the law. The Defense Ministry and AFL leadership are yet to respond to the letter, which was signed by Counsellor-at-Law Sylvester G. Lormie II and sent to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Major General Forleh, and Senator Momo T. Cyrus.
Key points
- The lawyers representing the two dismissed AFL sergeants argue that their clients' constitutional rights were violated during the discharge process.
- The incident has raised questions about how the AFL balances discipline and accountability with the constitutional and statutory protections afforded to its personnel.
- The outcome of the case could test the military’s disciplinary procedures and the extent to which administrative decisions affecting service members must comply with constitutional due-process protections.
