The United States Embassy near Monrovia alerts U.S. citizens to stay clear of demonstration areas in the wake of a planned street protest today, Monday by some groups of Liberians to demand the whereabouts of two 40-foot containers and bags of moneys totaling about US$15 Billion Liberian Dollars that allegedly disappeared in thin air from the Freeport of Monrovia.
According to an alert posted on the U.S. Embassy’s official website in Monrovia, the demonstration is expected to start outside the U.S. Embassy on Benson Street, proceeding through downtown Monrovia.
“A demonstration is expected to take place on the morning of Monday, September 24, 2018, time TBD, starting outside the U.S. Embassy on Benson Street and proceeding through downtown Monrovia. U.S. government personnel are advised to avoid those areas”, the alert reads.
It calls on U.S. citizens in the capital to avoid the areas of the demonstrations,exercise caution if unexpectedly in the vicinity of large gatherings or protests,monitor local media for updates, keep a low profile.
U.S. citizens in Monrovia are advised to immediately call the Embassy for assistance thru the contact number: +(231) 77 677 7000 in case of any eventuality.Demonstrators are expected to march to the U.S. Embassy and present a statement to Ambassador Christian Elders, calling for intervention to have the missing moneys retrieved.
Already, the Government of Liberia has called on the United States Government, including the FBI and the U. S. State Department to assist with current investigation to have the moneys retrieved and bring those responsible to book.The Government of Liberia last week confirmed the reported disappearance of two 40-foot containers stacked with newly printed Liberian Banknotes from the Freeport of Monrovia.
A Government of Liberia official press release issued Monday, 17 September thru the Ministry of Justice under the signature of Minister and Attorney General, Cllr. Frank Musa Dean, Jr., confirmed that on August 8, 2018 a Special Presidential Investigative Team, comprising the Liberia National Police, the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), was constituted and mandated to investigate information surrounding the arrival of containers and bags of moneys into the country, by and thru the Freeport of Monrovia and the Roberts International Airport, respectively.
“Initial findings indicate the containers and bags of moneys allegedly arrived between November 2017, prior to the inauguration of the current Government, and August 2018. Evidence available to the Investigative Team has established that the current administration was not informed about the arrival of the containers and bags of money into the country”, the release reads.
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The government says investigation is actively ongoing, and release of information to the public will be measured against the need to preserve the sanctity of the investigation and ensure that professional standards are not compromised.
President George Weah calls for calm while the investigations are ongoing to get to the bottom of the crime and bring those responsible to justice.
