MONROVIA – The head of the Liberia National Commission on Arms, James M. Fromayan, has been explaining President Joseph Boakai’s Executive Order #141 amid debate in the public sphere, bordering concerns about opening opportunities for putting guns in the hands of the already increasing criminal elements in the country.
Processing Civilian Arms
Speaking at the regular MICAT Press Briefing Thursday, Mr. Fromayan announced that the Arms Commission was fully operational and ready to begin processing applications for civilian firearms licenses.
According to him, applicants may visit head office at Capitol Hill, Executive Mansion Grounds or any of our regional offices in Bong, Lofa, and Bomi counties.
Civilian Firearm, according to him, includes authorized firearms for civilian possession, specifically shoulder-fired single- or double-barrel gun (break action or pump action) used for game-hunting, traditional ceremonies and recreation in a controlled facility; handgun ranging from 5.6mm (.22-inch) caliber to 9mm (.35-inch) caliber specified for individuals and institutions granted exemption under the ‘special security need’ category.
He outlined a number of administrative procedures attending the registration process, clarifying that those eligible must be Liberian citizen or legal resident, 18 years or above; must not have any criminal record, including domestic violence; must be of sound mind and not under the care of a mental institution; must present a medical certificate confirming sound mental and physical health; must not be addicted to or a habitual user of controlled substances.
Applicants for guns, according to him, must not have a record of intemperate conduct or human rights violations; must undergo and pass a background check by the Liberia National Police and the National Security Agency; must otherwise be permitted by law to own a firearm.
To apply, one must express intent through a formal communication addressed to the Chairperson of the Liberia National Commission on Arms (LiNCA), he said, adding: “LiNCA will acknowledge receipt of the letter of intent by providing the applicant with an Application Form as well as a payment slip with the designated bank account details to deposit non-refundable fees in USD or equivalent in Liberian Dollars for license/permit and submit proof of payment to obtain official receipt.”
The applicant is also complete the Application Form issued by the Commission and submit all of the requirements attached to the Form; be forwarded to law enforcement authority for background check and fingerprinting; receive notification of approval or rejection from the Commission; and upon approval, applicant will be forwarded to the LNP Small Arms Control Unit for competence firearm training clearance.
Fromayan said firearm will be marked and recorded for tracing purpose; a team from law enforcement authority will conduct assessment of the applicant’s firearm storage before license is issued and LiNCA will conduct periodic inspections of the firearm management in line with internal SOPs.
The LiNCA Boss noted that despite these accomplishments, the unregulated proliferation of civilian-held firearms remains a critical challenge.
“Alarmingly, many of these firearms are acquired through illegal means, and the country lacks an accurate record of how many such weapons are currently in circulation,” he said further. “Against the backdrop of rising security concerns and public demand for self-defense, Executive Order #141 is both timely and strategic. It provides:”
He declared that an amnesty period that conforms to the life span of the Executive Order for civilians who currently own firearms illegally, offering them a chance to register and legalize those arms through the appropriate procedures, and a clear legal pathway to responsible gun ownership, ensuring that firearms in civilian hands are properly documented, tracked, and regulated.
According to him, the amnesty window expires in February 2026, and after the deadline, anyone found in possession of an unregistered firearm will be subject to the full force of the law—including a felony charge of the first degree, punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.
Establishment of a licensing regime
He also asserted that the commencement of Civilian Arms Registration Exercise was preceded by a number of policy decisions or steps by the Commission in collaboration with relevant state security agencies, such as he setting up of a Technical Committee, a team of security experts from the members of the country’s joint security pursuant to Section 4.6 of the amended Firearms and Ammunition Control Act of 2015 to vet individuals who apply for possession license.
Fromayan said there will be a formulation and adoption of administrative regulations – Regulation #5: “Procedures for Obtaining Possession Permit/License for Civilian Firearms” defining the specifications of firearms, fees, penalties as well as other procedures required for civilian possession of firearms in Liberia.
It requires the development of official documentation for the exercise (Application forms, permits and licenses) jointly by the Commission and the Liberia National Police; the conduct of a robust sensitization and awareness exercises using print and electronic media.
Executive Order 141
Fromayan recalled that the implementation of Executive Order #141 comes from its issuance by His Excellency, President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, on February 24, 2025, mandating the registration of all civilian-owned firearms across the Republic.
He said the Liberia National Commission on Arms—formerly known as the Small Arms Commission—was established in 2012 in alignment with Article 24 of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons.
This Convention aims to curb the growing threat posed by the uncontrolled proliferation of illicit small arms and light weapons (SALWs) across the subregion. At that time, an alarming rise in violence fueled by the wave of armed conflicts in the Mano River Union (MRU) basin and other parts of the ECOWAS region, posed a serious threat to regional peace and security.
Liberia, still reeling from the devastating effects of a 14-year civil conflict―largely fueled by the availability of illicit small arms and light weapons―was particularly vulnerable. That dark chapter in our history remains a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by unchecked access to firearms. With strong backing from ECOWAS, the United Nations, and other regional and international partners, the Government of Liberia acted decisively to prevent a recurrence of such conflict by establishing mechanisms for arms control.
He continued: “Our commitment to international norms was demonstrated through the signing and ratification of the ECOWAS Convention on Small Arms and Light Weapons and the Arms Trade Treaty (ATT). Going beyond symbolic endorsements, Liberia has successfully domesticated these instruments, integrating their principles into our legal frameworks—most notably through the Arms Commission Act and the Firearms and Ammunition Control Act, originally enacted in 2015 and comprehensively amended in 2022.”
These legal frameworks, he said, empower the Commission to regulate the full life cycle of weapons and ammunition—covering importation, manufacturing, trading, possession, usage, and the destruction of obsolete and excess firearms in collaboration with state security institutions.
Achievements in Managing State-Owned Arms
He said in collaboration with state security agencies, has made measurable progress in the management of state-owned firearms.
Key achievements include Marking and digital recording of state-owned weapons for easy tracing; routine assessments and inspections of state armories for compliance with stockpile management protocols; specialized training programs for armory managers and technical security personnel, and the retrieval of seized and obsolete weapons from around the country
“These initiatives are in line with international best practices for physical security and accountability of state-held arms,” he asserted.