LIBERIA – The United States Government has issued a security alert on the situation at the Roberts International airport.
In the alert to its citizens, the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia says it is aware of several recent audits of Roberts International Airport (RIA), all of which have revealed significant shortcomings in airport safety, security, and operational standards.
It says “We are aware that RIA, the Liberia Airport Authority, and the Liberia Civil Aviation Authority have begun steps to address these shortcomings in recent months.’
However, the alert states that U.S. citizens contemplating air travel into or out of RIA, which is Liberia’s only international airport, should be aware that few if any of these shortcomings have been adequately resolved to date, and that several airport safety, security, and emergency response capabilities remain below international standards.
The Embassy states that it is not aware that airlines have reduced operating schedules to RIA in response to these audit findings, but has pledged to update its alert message should it become aware of any such plans.
Reading this article constrains me to revert to some of the strong criticisms I have for the U.S.-Liberia so-called traditional partnership that accounts for the underdevelopment of Liberia for over 200 years. It is in the interest of the U.S. to step up to the ensuing that the limited critical infrastructure in Liberia remains efficient and functional. Whilst it is Liberia’s responsibility as a nation to assume that role, rightly so, however, Liberia should reflect the good graces of the U.S. across Africa. The failure of Liberia political, social, and economical development is as much the failure of the U.S. given the history of the founding, governing, and managing of Liberia for the better part of the first 125 years of the country’s independence, not to mention the political, economic and security benefits the U.S. have enjoyed and still enjoys in this relationship. This is truly sad. The logic I am pushing is similar to the logic Presidential Biden’s and the U.S. push for spending billions in Ukraine under the circumstances. Let the U.S. go beyond sounding the alarm, and lead as a parent would – which is exactly what the U.S. is to Liberia.