Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai has chosen a retired female brigadier general, Geraldine George, to be the temporary head of the defense department. This decision came after the wives of soldiers protested and caused the previous minister to step down.
This is the first time a woman is doing this job, but we don’t know why Mrs. George is only doing it temporarily.
She joined the army in 2006 while it was being rebuilt after a civil war and became part of the best troops. She has been the second-in-command of the staff for the past six years.
After Mr Boakai became president on 22 January, he chose her to be the deputy in charge of administration in the defense ministry.
She got a promotion because the Defense Minister, Prince Charles Johnson III, quit his job after protests from soldiers’ wives on Monday.
The senate in Liberia approved his appointment last week, but he had to quit because of the protests.
The woman said that because he used to be in charge of the armed forces, he should be blamed for the military not getting enough money and having bad living conditions.
The women put roadblocks in Monrovia and other parts of the country, so Mr. Boakai had to cancel the National Army Day celebrations on Monday.
Mr Boakai became the new leader by winning a very close election against the current leader, George Weah, last November. Neither of them won enough votes in the first round, so they had a second election to decide the winner.
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First female minister of defence appointed to Liberia
