–Amid Encroachment Claims
By Shallon S. Gonlor
shallonsgonlor@gmail.com
MARLAY TOWN, Nimba County, Liberia — The Forestry Development Authority (FDA) of Liberia has deployed six joint security personnel, comprising three forest rangers and three armed police officers, to the Marlay Authorized Community Forest in Electoral District #6, Nimba County, to investigate allegations of encroachment and the effects of Burkinabé nationals’ presence in the forest area.
FDA’s deployment, which began on Saturday, November 7, 2026, marks the commencement of a government-led fact-finding investigation intended to establish the circumstances surrounding the alleged occupation of the community’s ancestral forestland by Burkinabé nationals and determine appropriate measures to address the situation.
The intervention follows mounting complaints from women and other residents of Marlay Town, who have accused Burkinabé nationals of encroaching on their traditional forestland, a situation they say has worsened their economic conditions and threatened their livelihoods.
The women had earlier threatened to stage a peaceful naked protest to draw national attention to their plight if the Government of Liberia failed to intervene urgently.
According to the residents, the forest dispute has become a longstanding source of tension between members of the community, Burkinabé nationals, and the Community Forest Management Body (CFMB) through its Forestry Development Authority, which they accuse of failing to adequately address the situation.
The women explained that restrictions on their access to traditional forest resources have significantly affected their families, particularly those who depend on the forest for their daily economic activities and livelihoods.
During previous engagements, some women reportedly broke down in tears while narrating the hardships they and their families have endured, calling on the government to protect their ancestral land and restore their access to the forest.
FDA Deploys Joint Security Team
Responding to the community’s complaints and the threatened protest, the FDA dispatched a six-member joint security team to the disputed forest following a town hall meeting held in Marlay Town on Saturday.
The team comprises three FDA forest rangers and three armed police officers, who are expected to conduct a weeklong assessment of the forest, investigate the residents’ allegations, and report their findings to the authority.
The town hall meeting brought together women, youths, traditional leaders, local chiefs, and other residents of the Boe-Quellah Administrative District, providing an opportunity for community members to express their concerns directly to government representatives.
Speaking during the engagement, FDA Deputy Managing Director for Administration and Finance, Hon. Victor W. Kpaiseh, called on residents to remain calm, assuring them that the authority was taking steps to prevent further encroachment on the Boe and Quellah Authorized Community Forest.
Kpaiseh emphasized that addressing the alleged presence of Burkinabé nationals in the forest would require cooperation between the government and residents, describing the situation as a matter that extends beyond the boundaries of Marlay Town.
He warned that the increasing presence of foreign nationals in forest communities, particularly where land ownership and boundary disputes exist, could create serious security challenges if not properly addressed.
“It has become a national issue. Let me let you know, the citizens we are talking about, if we fail to address this situation together as a nation, they will take over us soon,” Kpaiseh cautioned.
He further expressed concern about what he described as the involvement of some Liberian citizens in facilitating the entry of Burkinabé nationals into local communities, warning that disputes over land could potentially trigger serious conflicts.
“Land issues are not small matters. If you have over 100,000 people from Burkina Faso in the country, and our own citizens continue to bring them in, with community members involved, the first thing you are inviting is conflict,” he said.
FDA to Review 1952 Boundary Documents
Kpaiseh disclosed that the FDA would assign the joint security personnel to the forest for one week to investigate the allegations, assess the situation on the ground, and establish the extent of the reported encroachment.
He said the assessment would provide the authority with information needed to determine the appropriate measures to address the concerns raised by the residents.
The FDA official also announced plans to retrieve and review official records relating to the Boe-Quellah Authorized Community Forest, including historical documents associated with the 1952 boundary demarcation.
According to him, the FDA serves as the repository for Liberia’s forest-related documents and will ensure that all relevant records are examined to clarify the boundaries and address the longstanding concerns of the affected communities.
He maintained that reviewing the historical documents would help the authority establish the legitimate boundaries of the community forest and determine the appropriate course of action.
Kpaiseh further stressed that the government’s intervention would require active participation from community members, urging residents to cooperate with the deployed security personnel and provide credible information that could assist the investigation.
Concerns Over Burkinabé Presence in Other Counties
The FDA official also raised broader concerns about the reported influx of Burkinabé nationals into other parts of Liberia, particularly southeastern counties.
He suggested that the population of Burkinabé nationals in some communities could be significantly higher than that of the indigenous residents, referencing concerns reportedly associated with the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Reintegration Commission (LRRRC).
The concerns have also generated discussions about possible implications for land ownership, community relations, forest governance, and national security.
Some observers have warned that failure to properly manage cross-border migration, land disputes, and forest-related conflicts could create challenges for national security and peaceful coexistence.
However, claims about the population of Burkinabé nationals in Liberia and their alleged numerical dominance in some counties require independent verification and official clarification.
Marlay Town Residents Demand Visible 1952 Boundaryline
Meanwhile, residents of Marlay Town say the failure of the FDA to clearly identify and visibly establish the 1952 forest boundary has contributed significantly to the recurring disputes and alleged encroachment.
They argue that the absence of visible boundary markers has created uncertainty over the actual limits of the Boe-Quellah Authorized Community Forest, making it difficult for residents to identify and protect their traditional forestland.
According to the residents, clearly demarcating the boundary would help prevent unauthorized occupation, reduce tensions, and protect the community’s rights over its legally recognized forest resources.
They are therefore calling on the FDA to move beyond investigations and take concrete steps to address the alleged encroachment, clarify the historical boundary, and ensure that visible boundary markers are established throughout the disputed areas.
The residents also want the government to ensure that any findings from the one-week investigation translate into practical measures that protect the community forest and prevent further disputes.
The deployment of the six-member joint security team represents the government’s initial response to the growing concerns in Marlay Town. However, residents will be looking to the FDA for a lasting resolution to the forest dispute, particularly the clarification of the 1952 boundary demarcation and the protection of their ancestral forestland.
