-๐๐ถ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ฒ๐ ๐๐ผ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ป๐บ๐ฒ๐ป๐ ๐๐ด๐ฒ๐ป๐ฐ๐ถ๐ฒ๐
The Plenary of the House of Representatives has cited several key government institutions to appear Tuesday, May 20, 2025, to address concerns surrounding the increasing influx of illegal immigrantsโparticularly Burkinabesโinto the southeastern region and other parts of Liberia.
The decision follows a formal communication submitted by Hon. Anthony Williams, Representative of Maryland County Electoral District #2, in which he raised serious security and sovereignty concerns regarding the unauthorized presence and activities of foreign nationals in the country.
Cited to appear before Plenary are the leaderships of the following institutions:
Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), Ministry of Justice (MOJ), Liberia National Police (LNP), Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), Ministry of Agriculture (MOA), and Forestry Development Authority (FDA).
According to Hon. Williams, this is the second time he is calling the attention of the body to this issue. He emphasized that the growing wave of illegal Burkinabe immigrantsโparticularly in the southeast poses a significant national security threat. He cited disturbing reports of illegal activities allegedly carried out by some of these individuals, including the manufacture of single-barrel guns, illegal farming and mining, encroachment on protected forest areas, and threats to local residents.
“Citizens in these affected areas have consistently raised alarms about these developments, expressing fear and concern for their safety,” Hon. Williams noted. “This situation has the potential to disrupt our national peace, especially considering the historical involvement of Burkinabes during Liberiaโs civil unrest and the continued vulnerability of our porous borders.”
He further warned that if left unaddressed, the crisis could mirror the early warning signs of regional instability seen in other West African nations like Mali. The Maryland lawmaker called for urgent inter-agency coordination and a comprehensive national response strategy to address the situation.
โOur limited resources and capacity to effectively monitor and secure our borders underscore the need for a collective effort. We must act swiftly to prevent further deterioration, social unrest, or possible xenophobic tensions,โ he added.
The House of Representatives remains committed to safeguarding the peace, security, and territorial integrity of Liberia and expects full cooperation and accountability from the agencies cited in addressing this critical issue.
