Liberia

Liberia has a unique history in the private security sector due to the involvment of private military and security companies (PMSCs) in the creation of the Liberian Armed Forces following the Liberian Civil War in 2003 and the role Liberia has played in private maritime security regulations. The latest studies on private security companies (PSCs) in Liberia state that 127 PSCs and 7,000 PSC personnel are currently operating in the country.

Unfortunately, the current regulatory framework has proved ineffective at regulating the industry.

Main law regulating private security: NO PUBLICLY AVAILABLE LAW REGARDING PRIVATE SECURITY COULD BE FOUND

Summary

The context surrounding private military and security companies (PMSCs) in Liberia is unique. In the comprehensive peace agreement (CPA) that concluded the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003, the parties to the conflict requested that the United States play a lead role in the organisation of the Liberian Armed Forces restructuring program. The US hired two PMSCs to carry out this process, DynCorp International and Pacific Architects and Engineers, making the Liberian Armed Forces the only military in the world built by PMSCs. Despite this fact, Liberia has not endorsed the Montreux Document.

Alternatively, Liberia has an increasing number of private security companies (PSCs) performing a range of tasks such as providing security to diplomatic missions, government buildings, and large industries. Liberia has a large rubber and logging industry that is protected by Plant Protection Departments (PPDs) of these large companies in order to compensate for the Government of Liberia’s inability to provide security and rule of law. In 2006, these plantations already employed a total of 738 private security officers.[iii]

Finally, Liberia is one of the largest flag states for merchant shipping in the world. In response to the rising number of piracy attacks on merchant ships in the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean and the resulting need for security personnel on board to deter such attacks, Liberia issued a document providing guidelines on safely hiring and utilising private security at sea. While the guidelines, released in 2008, were the first laws in private maritime security, they, unfortunately, do not amount to a regulatory framework for PSCs operating on board merchant vessels.

Legal Framework

PSCs in Liberia fall under the authority of the Ministry of Justice Department of Public Safety. In 2008, the Ministry of Justice released the Guidelines to Organise and Operate Private Security Agencies. These Guidelines require PSCs to register with the Department of Public Safety and lay out other standards of operation such as the carrying of firearms, uniforms, and training. 

• Guidelines to Organise and Operate Private Security Agencies (Monrovia: Ministry of Justice, Division of Public Safety, 2007) (Online text not available)

Challenges

Several challenges facing the private security industry in Liberia have been identified including:

Insufficient Legal and Regulatory Framework

Survey responses revealed the view that the Guidelines were either inadequate or impractical to implement. The Department of Public Safety lacks the resources, basic supplies, personnel and logistics to effectively enforce these Guidelines. Despite several companies having violated the Guidelines, very few have been penalized.

Other challenges:

• Low salaries for private security personnel due to the unwillingness of clients to pay necessary fees for services and delayed payment for those services
• Inadequate coordination between national security agencies and the private security sector

Private Security Governance Observatory Members

• Green Advocates International
• Liberia National Law Enforcement Association (LINLEA)