By:Julius Konton
The Liberia National Commission on Arms (LiNCA) has concluded a four-day regional awareness campaign across Bong, Nimba, Bomi, and Gbarpolu Counties as part of preparations for the nationwide physical registration of civilian and hunters’ firearms scheduled to begin in November 2025.
The initiative follows the amended Firearms and Ammunition Control Act of 2015 and Executive Order No. 141, which require all civilian-owned firearms to be registered between February 2025 and February 2026.
LiNCA Commissioner Atty. Vivian D. Dogbey led the outreach mission to Bong and Nimba Counties, where the delegation held meetings with local authorities, including Bong County Superintendent Loyelah Hawa Norris and Nimba County Superintendent Hon. Miapeh Gono.
Commissioner Dogbey called for “full cooperation and active participation” of county officials, traditional leaders, and community residents to ensure the successful implementation of the firearms registration process.
“The success of this exercise depends on collective involvement, LiNCA cannot do it alone,” she stressed, noting the crucial support of the Liberia National Police and other security actors.
Dogbey urged all firearm owners, particularly hunters and civilians residing in counties scheduled for the first phase, to seize the opportunity to legally register and obtain licenses for their weapons.
She further warned that failure to register within the designated timeframe constitutes a violation of Liberia’s firearms laws.
“The goal is to strengthen accountability and prevent the proliferation of illegal firearms within communities,” she added.
In a separate deployment, LiNCA’s Executive Director Moses K. Yebleh led a team to Bomi and Gbarpolu Counties for parallel engagement activities with county authorities, joint security representatives, and civil society organizations.
LiNCA says it is working to establish a national firearms database, a move intended to improve tracking, enhance security, and promote responsible gun ownership.
The Commission reaffirmed its commitment to collaborating with county administration, traditional leaders, and national security agencies to ensure smooth implementation of Executive Order No. 141.
LiNCA is the statutory body responsible for regulating, monitoring, and controlling conventional arms and ammunition in Liberia, in line with national laws and the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
