Gambiaj.com – (MONROVIA, Liberia) – Authorities in Liberia are investigating a controversial self-defense group known as the National Fula Security of Liberia following the circulation of a video showing uniformed men, raising fears over the possible emergence of an ethnically aligned militia.
The controversy has prompted the House of Representatives of Liberia to summon key security officials for questioning this Monday, including the Justice Minister, the head of the National Security Agency, and the Inspector General of Police, in an effort to clarify the group’s legal status and activities.
Video Sparks Security Concerns
The video, widely shared on social media, shows dozens of men standing in formation under the banner of the National Fula Security of Liberia.
Dressed in military-style uniforms and standing at attention with their hands behind their backs, the men present themselves as members of a private security organization.
Liberian media outlets quickly interpreted the footage as resembling paramilitary training, fueling concern about the emergence of an ethnic-based militia in a country still haunted by the legacy of two devastating civil wars between 1989 and 2003.
The Ministry of Justice of Liberia responded swiftly, ordering the immediate suspension of the group’s activities. In a statement, the ministry said it had not granted any authorization to the organization and stressed that all security entities must operate under state regulation.
Group Denies Militia Allegations Lawmakers Seek Clarification
However, representatives of the Fula community have rejected allegations that the group is a militia.
Speaking to Radio France Internationale, blogger Alimu Sow said the initiative dates back to 2009 and was created to protect Muslim worshippers during late-night Ramadan prayers, a period when theft and assaults tend to increase.
He insisted that the footage in question did not depict paramilitary training but rather a workshop involving members of the group.
Lawmakers are now seeking answers on whether the group operates legally, how extensive its activities are, and what the country’s security services knew about its existence.
The investigation underscores the sensitivity surrounding armed groups in Liberia, where memories of ethnically driven violence remain fresh, and authorities remain wary of any organization operating outside formal state security structures.
