Princess Jiffan is known as ‘The General’ to her friends because of her determined character and someone who is never afraid to challenge gender stereotypes. Since finishing school, she has been working for her older brother selling cosmetic products in Greenville, Liberia. Following a recent outreach initiative by the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), she is setting her sights on her dream career change. The opportunity to speak directly with serving women gave her information and guidance she had struggled to find.
“Joining the military has been my dream for years. Growing up, I admired people who served their country, but it was rare to see women in uniform. The first woman I saw serving in the AFL was a driver deployed with a team of soldiers to address illegal mining activities in a protected reserve area. Seeing that woman made a strong impression on me and from that point on, military service felt like something I wanted to do, but I did not know where to find the right information. It seemed far away.
When the military conducted an outreach activity in Greenville, I finally had the opportunity to speak directly with women serving in the AFL. They answered questions, shared their experiences, and helped me understand that there are many opportunities for women in the military. I learned that women serve in different roles, including mechanics, which is a field that interests me. Understanding how vehicles work will always be an important skill in any sector.
The visit from the AFL also helped me realise that women do belong in the security sector and can make important contributions to protecting communities at home and in peacekeeping. Meeting women who have chosen this path gives me confidence that my goal is achievable.
I’m going to prepare for future recruitment opportunities and encourage other young women to learn more about military service. I think there are other women like me who have the ambition to serve. What we often need is information, guidance, and the chance to see what is possible. I can now see a clearer path toward achieving my dream of one day wearing the uniform of the Armed Forces of Liberia.”
In July and August 2026, Liberia’s Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces of Liberia, with support from UN Women, conducted an awareness campaign across all 15 counties of Liberia. This outreach is one of several components of the AFL-UN Women project supported by the Elsie Initiative Fund that seeks to strengthen the participation of Liberian women in security and UN peacekeeping operations.
Originally published by UN Women.
