Published: October 21, 2026
MONROVIA — The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has dishonorably discharged two soldiers accused of assaulting a young woman in Thinkers Village, Paynesville, following the circulation of a video showing the incident, which sparked widespread public outrage.
The soldiers, identified as Sgt. Robert P. Menyon and Sgt. Abu S.B. Sheriff, both assigned to the AFL’s 23rd Infantry Brigade, were dismissed Wednesday, Oct. 21, during a ceremony at the Edward Beyan Kesselly (EBK) Military Barracks.
The dismissal was announced by AFL Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Davidson Forleh in the presence of senior military officers, the victim, Blessings Kpalleh, and members of her family.
The decision followed an incident that reportedly occurred Oct. 20 in the Thinkers Village community. A video showing the alleged assault circulated widely on social media, drawing public condemnation and raising concerns about the conduct of military personnel.
The circumstances that led to the confrontation remain unclear.
Speaking during the dismissal ceremony, Maj. Gen. Forleh strongly condemned the soldiers’ actions, describing their conduct as unacceptable and damaging to the military’s reputation.
“These soldiers are bad apples. They are virus. They are Ebola virus,” Forleh declared.
The AFL chief of staff maintained that the military’s decision was not influenced by social media pressure but was based on information gathered through its internal security and investigative processes.
According to him, military police were immediately dispatched to apprehend the soldiers after authorities received information about the incident.
“This is an abuse to our uniform. The AFL you see today is a force for good,” Forleh stressed.
He warned that the military would not tolerate acts of violence or misconduct by personnel entrusted with protecting the public.
“You cannot do this. This is inhumane. This is unacceptable,” he said.
Forleh emphasized that the AFL, under his leadership and the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, remains committed to maintaining discipline, professionalism and respect for civilians.
The dismissal order, read by the AFL’s J1 chief of personnel, cited Chapter 7, Section 7J of the New National Defense Act of 2008 as the legal basis for the administrative action.
According to Order No. 6, dated Oct. 21, 2026, both sergeants were discharged for the good of the service, effective immediately.
The order also directed the AFL provost marshal to recover all government property in the possession of the dismissed soldiers.
It further instructed that their families be removed from the EBK Military Barracks and relocated to the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex area.
However, the victim, Blessings Kpalleh, a young mother, expressed mixed feelings about the military’s decision, saying she had forgiven the soldiers and had not intended for them to lose their careers.
Speaking to journalists at the barracks, Kpalleh became emotional as the dismissal order was being read.
She explained that although she wanted the soldiers punished for their actions, she believed a disciplinary measure short of dismissal would have been sufficient.
“For me, they already appeal to me, and I forgive them but I just wanted some punishment for them but I don’t think making them leave the army is good,” she said.
Kpalleh maintained that her intention was to see the soldiers held accountable rather than permanently removed from military service.
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