By Desmond Gbeleh Wion
Capitol Hill, Monrovia – In a bold and coordinated effort to restore calm and reinforce the state’s presence in vulnerable communities, Liberia’s Joint Security Task Force has launched a series of intensive “Confidence Patrols” across identified high-risk zones within Monrovia. The initiative, which began earlier this week, is a strategic operation aimed at deterring potential unrest while reassuring citizens of ongoing government protection and authority.
Comprising the Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), and the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS), the task force is carrying out these high-visibility patrols in urban hotspots. Well-trained personnel have been deployed to increase ground presence and gather real-time intelligence.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information’s regular Tuesday press briefing, Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah emphasized that the patrols are “not merely a show of force, but a calculated, people-centered approach to rebuilding trust between security agencies and the communities they serve.”
“Despite the rising wave of threats from certain opposition figures, the mission of the Joint Security is clear,” Piah stated. “First, to map and monitor zones with recurring violence patterns; and second, to build public confidence so that citizens feel safe to go about their daily lives without fear.”
In recent months, local leaders and residents have observed a notable increase in uniformed security presence, particularly in areas impacted by political unrest, community clashes, and criminal syndicates.
These confidence patrols come in the wake of mounting public concern, especially among students and market women, over their safety as some former government officials—expected to uphold peace and democratic values—are instead engaging in inflammatory rhetoric and actions perceived to promote instability. The former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has threatened ongoing protests over what it claims is a violation of the constitution by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. Whether these protests remain peaceful remains uncertain.
To enhance community engagement, mobile command centers have been established across Monrovia to receive civilian reports and strengthen intelligence through collaboration with residents.
The Ministry of Information has lauded the “Confidence Patrol” strategy as a significant shift from reactive crisis response to proactive peace enforcement. “This initiative sends a clear message,” said Minister Piah. “Government is not waiting for violence to erupt—it is moving ahead of the threat to secure lives and maintain order.”
As the patrols continue in the coming weeks, authorities are urging residents to cooperate with security personnel and report any suspicious activities through official hotlines or to nearby patrol units.
While this approach is rooted in standard security practices for post-conflict states like Liberia, its success, according to Minister Piah, will be judged not only by a decline in violent incidents, but also by the visible restoration of civilian trust, resumption of normal economic activity in volatile areas, and the long-term de-escalation of politically charged tension zones.
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