By Joseph Kerkula
Monrovia, Liberia — The Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) has confirmed the seizure of a Comoros-flagged vessel that allegedly fled after Liberian authorities attempted to intercept it in the country’s territorial waters.
The vessel, identified as the IB Atlantic IV Moroni, was initially spotted off the coast of Grand Cape Mount County, according to AFL Chief of Staff Major General Davidson Forley.
General Forley said Liberian authorities attempted to establish the vessel’s identity and determine the purpose of its presence in Liberian waters. However, he said the vessel subsequently moved away from the Liberian coast, prompting authorities to launch a pursuit.
Speaking Thursday during a radio interview on Okay FM 99.5 in Monrovia, General Forley said the Liberian Coast Guard followed the vessel as it moved farther into the Atlantic Ocean.
He explained that the pursuit became increasingly difficult as the vessel moved into deeper waters, where rough Atlantic conditions created significant operational challenges for the Coast Guard.
According to General Forley, authorities also had to consider the safety of Coast Guard personnel and avoided exposing them to unnecessary risks by continuing the pursuit under dangerous sea conditions.
Despite the challenges, General Forley said efforts to track and intercept the vessel continued through regional cooperation.
He disclosed that the vessel was eventually intercepted and seized in Côte d’Ivoire through a coordinated operation involving Liberia and other countries in the Mano River Union region.
The AFL Chief of Staff described the operation as an example of the importance of regional cooperation in addressing maritime security incidents that extend beyond the territorial waters of a single country.
General Forley further confirmed that the vessel is now in the possession of the Armed Forces of Liberia and the Liberia Maritime Authority following the operation.
The circumstances surrounding the vessel’s movement away from Liberia and its subsequent seizure remain unclear.
The AFL has not disclosed why the vessel allegedly failed to cooperate with Liberian authorities or whether it was operating in violation of Liberian maritime regulations.
Authorities have also not released details about the vessel’s cargo, the number of people aboard or whether any crew members have been detained or are being questioned.
It also remains unclear whether the vessel was carrying any prohibited or suspicious materials when it was intercepted.
The lack of information has left several questions surrounding the vessel’s activities along the Liberian coast and the circumstances that led to its eventual seizure in Côte d’Ivoire.
The incident has renewed attention to maritime surveillance and security along Liberia’s coastline, particularly the capacity of national authorities to monitor and respond to vessels operating within and around the country’s territorial waters.
Liberia’s coastline forms part of a broader maritime corridor in West Africa, making cooperation among neighboring countries important when vessels move across national jurisdictions.
The reported involvement of Côte d’Ivoire and other Mano River Union countries in the operation highlights the role of cross-border coordination in responding to maritime security concerns.
For Liberia, the incident also exposes some of the operational challenges facing its maritime security institutions, particularly when vessels move into deeper waters and adverse weather conditions make direct pursuit more difficult.
The AFL and the Liberia Maritime Authority are expected to provide additional information as authorities continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the vessel’s activities and movements.
Until further findings are released, questions remain about why the vessel left Liberia’s territorial waters, what it was doing along the Liberian coast and what ultimately led to its interception and seizure in Côte d’Ivoire.
