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Nigerian-trained general appointed as Liberia’s top security chief

On Monday, Liberian President, Joseph Boakai, appointed  Major General Charles Johnson (retd.), as the  Director of the National Security Agency, pending confirmation by the Liberian Senate

His appointment is coming months after his resignation as Minister of National Defence.

Before that, he led the Armed Forces of Liberia as its Chief of Staff for six years.

Though born in Monrovia, checks on his military background showed that he completed one of his officers’ courses at the Nigeria Army School of Infantry in Jaji, Kaduna State.

He is also an alumna of the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

After completing his officer candidate School in 2007,  he was commissioned as 2nd Lieutenant. In the  AFL, he also served as Military Assistant to former Minister of National Defence, Brownie J. Samukai Jr.

In 2014, Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf promoted Johnson to Brigade Commander of the 23rd Infantry Brigade, becoming the first Liberian to hold the post of Brigade Commander in the AFL following the end of the Liberian Civil War.

Johnson obtained a bachelor’s degree in Accounting at the United Methodist University in 2004.