Liberia: Liberian Authorities Say They Have Proof That Ibrahima Kalil Cherif was in Contact with Ex-President Alpha Conde to Destabilize Subsequent- Door Neighbor
Monrovia – Concerns over nationwide safety have intensified following the arrest of Abraham Khalil Cherif, a Guinean nationwide, by Liberian joint safety forces. Cherif was detained below suspicion of orchestrating subversive actions towards the Guinean navy junta whereas in search of refuge in Liberia.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, [email protected]; Willie N. Tokpah [email protected]
The Liberian authorities have been tightlipped on the state of affairs seen as a high nationwide safety matter. However, safety sources confirmed to FrontPageAfrica that Cherif, a non-Liberian nationwide, was certainly handed over to Guinean authorities.
“[I] Can’t confirm or deny but the courts will give more insight on the case. What I do know is Chiref is a Guinean that was recruiting former fighters in Liberia to destabilize Guinea. We have evidence of texts with him and former Guinean President Alpha Conde from Turkey, photos, recordings, etc,” the supply tells FPA.
Dispute over Citizenship and Court Orders
Former Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh, representing Cherif, claims that the extradition was illegal, alleging that Cherif’s whereabouts stay unknown. Ja’neh said that Cherif is Liberian by delivery, claiming his grandfather was a revered imam in Monrovia.
“I am one of the lawyers for Mr. Khalifa Charif (Sheriff). He was born here, Crown Hill, Monrovia, unto two Liberian Mandingo parents,” Ja’neh stated. “His grandfather was Imam Alhaji Mata -Saykou Sheriff of blessed memory, who was one of the most respected Imams of the 50s and 60s of the Benson Street (Mas Jed) Mosque. A nationally respected religious figure, Imam Alhaji Mata – Saykou Sheriff’s funeral was attended here in Monrovia by President William V. S. Tubman to honor the Imam’s inestimable contributions to nation building.”
I] Can’t verify or deny however the courts will give extra perception on the case. What I do know is Chiref is a Guinean that was recruiting former fighters in Liberia to go destabilize Guinea. We have evidences of texts with he and former Guinean President Alpha Conde from Turkey, photographs, recording, and so forth.
Top Security Source
Ja’neh added that though Cherif spent his early childhood in Guinea on account of Liberia’s civil battle, it doesn’t invalidate his Liberian citizenship. According to Ja’neh, safety forces raided Cherif’s property six weeks in the past with no warrant, confiscating his automobiles and cash. Despite court docket orders for the return of these things, Ja’neh claimed the authorities have ignored compliance.
Ja’neh additional alleged that within the early hours of November 3, 2024, a staff of Liberian safety personnel, led by Police Inspector General Gregory Coleman, forcibly entered Monrovia Central Prison and eliminated Cherif with out court docket authorization, delivering him to Guinean navy authorities.
Outcry over Extradition, Potential Protests
Ja’neh condemned the Boakai administration for what he described as a “lawless act” and introduced plans to prepare protests.
“The illegal removal of Mr. Charif from Monrovia Central Prison was ordered by senior National Security Actors of the Boakai Government. This act is a concrete demonstration of lawlessness and total disregard for the law under the Boakai Administration,” he stated.
“I, Cllr. Kabineh Ja’neh will ensure that Mr. Cherif is released as ordered by the court without any further delay. I will personally organize public demonstrations against National Security officers as I am now convinced that there is no longer any respect for court’s orders under the current administration. Accordingly, the demonstrations against police officers will continue until the court’s orders releasing Mr. Charif, are FULLY COMPLIED WITH,” he vowed.
Despite Ja’neh’s assertions, a replica of Cherif’s passport obtained by FrontPageAfrica lists his birthplace as Lola, Guinea, elevating questions on his citizenship standing and the legality of his extradition.
Although my Client, Mr. Khalifa Charif, spent most of his early childhood life within the Republic of Guinea due largely to the Liberian civil battle, that doesn’t make him a Guinean nationwide, as is being falsely circulated by Liberian state Security officers… Mr. Charif’s home was raided greater than six weeks in the past at which period he was arrested and his cash and two automobiles seized by a joint staff of law enforcement officials of the Liberia National Police and people of the National Security Agency (NSA).
Cllr. Kabineh M. Ja’neh, Charif’s lawyer
Junta Accuses ex-president of plotting coup
In September 2021, Col Doumbouya led Guinea’s armed forces to overthrow elected President Alpha Condé, after a sequence of protests over Mr Conde’s controversial bid for a 3rd time period.
Guinea and several other different international locations in West and central Africa have been hit by coups in recent times. Others embody Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and Gabon. The coups have been strongly condemned by the West African regional bloc Ecowas, in addition to the African Union and the UN. Guinea was anticipated to carry elections to revive democratic rule in December this 12 months when the 24-month transition interval set by the junta and Ecowas expires.
However, in February this 12 months, the junta led by Col Doumbouya dissolved the authorities. The announcement was made by means of a presidential decree learn on state TV by the presidency’s Secretary General, Brig Gen Amara Camara. Ministers within the dissolved authorities have been ordered to give up their passports and official automobiles.
Since the dissolution of the federal government, there have been stories of a rising repression and intolerance for dissent, one thing observers say threat derailing the promised transition again to civilian authorities whereas deepening the nation’s humanitarian disaster.
The newest improvement in Liberia comes because the Guinean navy junta has accused former president Alpha Conde of recruiting mercenaries to assault Guinea, from Liberia. According to the junta, lots of the recruits have been arrested and repatriated to Guinea to face justice. However, past Cherif, FrontPageAfrica has not verified whether or not different Guineans have been extradited by Liberia. Questions stay about whether or not any deportations have been performed in accordance with authorized protocols.
The junta leaders say all these plotting towards the regime will probably be arrested and extradited to Guinea, together with former President Alpha Conde. But the opposition has described this as a diversion tack by the junta to put in common panic inside the opposition forward of the thirty first December, when the junta is meant to stop energy.
According to stories from Guinea, the opposition has vowed to make the nation ungovernable if junta chief Mamady Doumbouya doesn’t step down on the thirty first December, 2024 as he promised. This has left Guineans to be on the sting as December attracts nearer and Doumbouya is displaying no signal of readying to step down.
Concerns mount over Cherif’s security
The deteriorating human rights surroundings in Guinea has raised severe issues concerning the security of Cherif following his extradition from Liberia. According to the U.S. State Department’s 2022 Human Rights report, Guinea has confronted widespread abuses, together with arbitrary detention and killings, bans on political meeting, and restrictions on free speech and press freedom. Amnesty International’s 2023 report, additionally documented quite a few rights violations, together with suppression of freedom of expression, peaceable meeting, illegal killings, arbitrary arrests, and circumstances of sexual and gender-based violence.
Cherif’s extradition has intensified fears that he might face related abuses, including urgency to requires his security and honest remedy below Guinean custody.
Cherif’s Extradition Parallels Sierra Leonean Ex-Police Chief Deportation
The latest extradition of Guinean nationwide Cherif bears hanging resemblance to final 12 months’s deportation of former Sierra Leonean Chief Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Y. Toure, often known as “Sankoh Paul Alimamy” and “Yeate Yeate,” to Sierra Leone. Both circumstances have sparked issues over Liberia’s extradition practices and their potential human rights implications.
In 2023, Toure was apprehended by Liberian safety forces on the request of Sierra Leonean authorities. He was accused of plotting subversive actions to destabilize President Julius Maada Bio’s authorities. Liberian officers cited preliminary investigations and assurances from the Government of Sierra Leone concerning Toure’s rights, together with the correct to a good trial, as grounds for his extradition. The choice aligned with the 1986 Non-Aggression Security Treaty amongst Liberia, Sierra Leone, and Guinea, in addition to the 1994 ECOWAS Convention on Extradition.
However, human rights advocates questioned the deportation’s legality, with issues over Toure’s remedy upon return. The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) launched a press release urging Liberia to contemplate its worldwide obligations earlier than complying with such requests.
Human Rights Concerns and INCHR’s Position
INCHR Chairperson, Cllr. T. Dempster Brown, highlighted key factors from worldwide agreements on extradition, urging warning in such circumstances:
- Extradition shouldn’t be granted for political offenses or if politically motivated.
- Extradition requests motivated by race, faith, nationality, or political standing ought to be denied.
- Extradition shouldn’t violate provisions of worldwide conventions.
- Extradition ought to be denied if there’s a threat of torture or inhumane remedy with out sufficient procedural ensures.
INCHR cited Liberia’s commitments below the 1969 OAU Convention, the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, and the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which underscore the necessity to defend people from threats to their life, liberty, and bodily integrity. The Commission highlighted the absence of a proper extradition settlement between Liberia and Sierra Leone as additional grounds for warning in Toure’s case.
Despite INCHR’s objections, Toure was finally extradited to Sierra Leone. This choice has since raised questions concerning Liberia’s dealing with of worldwide requests, particularly in politically delicate circumstances.
In Cherif’s case, it stays unclear whether or not Liberia reviewed related human rights measures or acquired assurances from Guinean authorities concerning a good trial.
