MONROVIA LIBERIA — Cllr. Pearl Brown-Bull, a signatory to the 1986 Constitution of Liberia, has weighed in on the ongoing national debate about citizenship following a proposal by former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to allow people of non-Negro descent, including white people, to become citizens of Liberia.
Speaking days after the proposal sparked public discussion, Cllr. Brown-Bull defended the constitutional provision that restricts citizenship to persons of Negro descent, arguing that the clause was deliberately inserted by the nation’s founders and reaffirmed by constitutional framers for historical reasons.
“I was a signer of the 1986 Constitution,” Brown-Bull said. “There was a reason the founders put that provision there that only people of Negro descent can become citizens of Liberia.”
Cllr. Brown-Bull urged Liberians to first understand the historical context that shaped the provision, pointing to the country’s founding history and the experiences of Black people who faced discrimination elsewhere before settling in Liberia.
Referring to the Liberian Declaration of Independence, she said the document explains how settlers came to Liberia seeking a place where people of African descent could govern themselves after facing discrimination in other lands.
“In the Declaration of Independence, they explained that in the countries they came from, citizens of a color different from theirs were preferred before them,” she said. “They uttered their complaints, but those complaints were not attended to, so they came here.”
Cllr. Brown-Bull also argued that Liberia is not unique in having citizenship rules tied to ancestry or national identity, citing Japan as an example where nationality requirements are closely tied to being ethnically Japanese.
Beyond the constitutional debate, Cllr. Brown-Bull stressed that civic education should be prioritized so citizens can better understand the rationale behind constitutional provisions.
“I agree we should teach civics in our schools,” she said. “When our people are educated, they will understand the rationale for why these provisions were put in the Constitution.”
She further questioned whether Liberia is effectively implementing existing laws, suggesting that the country should focus on enforcing current legal frameworks before attempting major constitutional changes.
Cllr. Brown-Bull noted that constitutional review efforts have taken place before, including committees appointed during the administration of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to examine potential amendments.
According to her, any attempt to alter citizenship provisions would ultimately require a national referendum.
“Instead of just going to the Legislature, you have to go to the people through a referendum to change such provisions,” she said.
Cllr. Brown-Bull also argued that Liberians must confront internal governance challenges and strengthen institutions, including the legal system, before expanding the debate about citizenship.
The former constitutional signer concluded by emphasizing that education and adherence to the rule of law are essential for the country’s progress as discussions over Liberia’s citizenship policy continue.
