Liberia: Discharged AFL Sergeants Demand Reinstatement, Allege Due Process Violations

Lawyers for Abu S. B. Sheriff and Robert Menyon say the military summarily dismissed the soldiers over a viral assault video without an investigation or hearing, asking the Defense Ministry to reverse the decision and restore their salaries and benefits. MONROVIA — Lawyers representing two Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) sergeants dismissed after a viral video showed one of them allegedly assaulting a young woman are demanding their immediate reinstatement, accusing the military leadership of violating their constitutional rights and bypassing established disciplinary procedures. By Gerald C. Koinyeneh In a letter dated October 27, 2026, and addressed to Acting Minister of National Defense Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, 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 are asking the Defense Ministry to reverse the decision, reinstate the two former soldiers, and restore their salaries, privileges, and pension contributions. They have also requested a formal, confidential, and impartial investigation into the incident should the authorities wish to pursue disciplinary action. The demand places the military’s response to the viral video under scrutiny, raising questions about how the AFL balances discipline and accountability with the constitutional and statutory protections afforded to its personnel. Lawyers Cite Constitutional, Legal Violations 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)…