Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai has appointed retired Brigadier General Geraldine George as the acting minister of defense following the resignation of her predecessor due to protests led by soldiers’ wives.
Brigadier General George’s appointment marks the first time a woman has been chosen for such a role, although it remains unclear why she was appointed only in an acting capacity.
She joined the army in 2006 after the civil war and climbed the ranks to become part of the elite forces, serving as deputy chief of staff for the past six years.
Upon President Boakai’s inauguration on January 22, she was appointed as the deputy for administration in the Ministry of Defense.
Her promotion follows the resignation of Defence Minister, Prince Charles Johnson III amid demonstrations by soldiers’ wives on Monday. Despite Johnson’s recent confirmation by Liberia’s senate, the protests highlighted grievances over low salaries and substandard living conditions in military barracks, for which the former chief of staff of the armed forces was held accountable.
The women’s protests, which included blockades of roads in the capital, Monrovia, and other parts of the country, prompted President Boakai to cancel National Army Day celebrations on Monday.
Boakai assumed the presidency after narrowly defeating the incumbent, George Weah, in a runoff election last November, as neither candidate secured an outright majority in the initial round of voting.
