The Association of Liberian Students in India (ALSI) has submitted a formal petition urging the Government of Liberia, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to immediately restore diplomatic and consular representation for Liberian nationals residing in India.
According to ALSI’s National Executive Committee, more than 4,000 Liberians, including students, businesspeople, patients seeking medical treatment, and other travelers, have been without official diplomatic support since 2021, following the death of Liberia’s Honorary Consul in India. The group says the four-year absence of a functioning Liberian mission has exposed citizens to a range of hardships.
In its petition, ALSI outlines several challenges faced by Liberians in India, including legal and immigration vulnerabilities, difficulties with passport renewal and other documentation, exposure to racial discrimination and physical insecurity, as well as significant educational, economic, and humanitarian burdens. The association notes that some citizens have struggled to secure assistance for critically ill compatriots or to facilitate the repatriation of remains.
The petition also highlights India’s importance as a global power, a longstanding development partner of Liberia, and the host of Liberia’s largest Asian diaspora community. While India maintains a resident embassy in Monrovia, Liberia currently has no diplomatic presence in India, a situation ALSI says undermines both citizen protection and the country’s international standing.
To address these concerns, ALSI is calling on the Liberian government to establish a Consulate General in India, appoint qualified diplomatic staff, formally recognize the student association as a consultative partner, and create a National Welfare and Emergency Fund to support Liberian students in the country.
The organization emphasized that the restoration of diplomatic representation is urgent and essential for safeguarding the welfare of Liberian citizens in India and strengthening bilateral relations between the two nations.
