News and Events

Iraqi Recruitment Ban Worries War-affected Youth
Youth Call for Ban Lift
Edwin M. Fayia, III, Daily Observer
Published: 20 April, 2009

MONROVIA,Following the official ban on a recent recruitment of Liberian youth to Iraq to take up assignments in that war-prone Middle East nation, several Liberian youth have sounded an earnest appeal to the Liberian Government to lift the ban.

More than a dozen of the war-affected youth on April 16, 2009 stormed the McDonald Street offices of the Daily Observer to air their sentiments to the Liberian Government and to all well-meaning Liberians at home and abroad.

The spokesman of the group, one Prince Mickey Kaidii, in an hour-long chat with the Daily Observer, pointed out that they had no other option but to appeal to the Liberian Government to see reason and lift the ban placed on the recruitment exercise in Monrovia.

Spokesman Kaidii also disclosed that there were up to 150 girls among the war-affected youth that were in dire need of economic empowerment.

Majority of the war-affected Liberian youth, Kaidii claimed, had acquired professional skills that would enable them make a big difference in their lives in the Islamic state of Iraq instead of post-conflict Liberia.

“Owing to lack of better paid jobs in our country,” Kaidii intimated, “the Iraqi nation is the best alternative that will help us better our lives in the years ahead.”

He disclosed that about 1,500 war-affected Liberian youth had been affected as a result of the Liberian Government's ban on the Iraqi recruitment program in Liberia.

The Liberian war-affected youth, who appeared visibly frustrated, urged the Liberian Government to reconsider the decision 'in the golden interest of national reconciliation and the free movement of all Liberians irrespective of political, economic, social and cultural backgrounds'.

Asked whether the group had written the Liberian Government about the appeal in the media, Kaidii noted that his group had worked on several communications that would soon be submitted to the relevant agencies of the Liberian Government for consideration.

On the question of why they could not take advantage of the stability in Liberia and find jobs, Kaidii stated: “We need exposure and well paid jobs that will measure up to the current economic conditions in Liberia.”

On whether Iraq was not too dangerous owing to the fact that they were not that experienced in the required military tactics in that strange environment, Kaidii asserted that other nationals from Sierra Leone had gone and returned with good money that had also strengthened their socio-economic conditions over the years, adding that they were up to the task.

Asked whether they were still in contact with the recruiting agents from Britain and the United States, Kaidii disclosed that there existed constant contacts and that they were only awaiting green light from the Liberian Government.

“Let the Liberian Government give us the opportunity,” Kaidii emphasized, “and we will return to Liberia with our socio-economic status completely changed.”

In conclusion, the group's spokesman expressed the hope that the Liberian Government and other stakeholders would give them audience and accord them the available golden opportunity to seek their fortunes in Iraq.