MONROVIA – The Plenary of the House of Representatives has summoned the leadership of several key government institutions to appear on Tuesday, May 20, 2025, to respond to mounting concerns over the growing influx of illegal immigrants, particularly from Burkina Faso, into southeastern Liberia and other regions across the country.
This action follows a formal communication submitted by Hon. Anthony Williams, Representative of Maryland County Electoral District #2, who expressed grave concerns about the rising presence of undocumented foreign nationals. In his communication, Representative Williams highlighted the potential threat this trend poses to Liberia’s national security, territorial sovereignty, and environmental protection efforts.
According to Williams, this marks the second time he has brought this issue before the House, warning that the continued arrival of illegal Burkinabe immigrants in the southeast is alarming and demands urgent government intervention. He cited a wave of troubling reports indicating that some of the undocumented individuals are involved in illicit activities such as the manufacturing of single-barrel guns, unauthorized farming and mining operations, and the encroachment on protected forest areas. There have also been reports of threats and intimidation against local residents.
Citizens residing in affected areas have reportedly voiced deep concern for their safety, with many calling on the government to act swiftly. Williams emphasized the historical context of Burkinabe involvement in Liberia’s past conflicts and warned that the country’s vulnerable and porous borders could once again become gateways for instability. He drew comparisons to regional crises in countries like Mali, suggesting that Liberia must not ignore the warning signs of potential unrest.
The institutions cited to appear before the House include the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission, the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia National Police, the Liberia Immigration Service, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the Ministry of Agriculture, and the Forestry Development Authority. Lawmakers are demanding accountability and a coordinated national response to contain the crisis.
Williams called for an inter-agency strategy that prioritizes border control, surveillance, and community security. He stressed that Liberia’s limited resources and capacity to effectively manage its borders underscore the need for collective action from all sectors of government. He also warned that if no decisive action is taken, the situation could deteriorate into social unrest or even provoke xenophobic backlash in affected communities.
In recent weeks, civil society groups have echoed these concerns. The NGO Coalition of Liberia has sounded alarms over the increasing influx of Burkinabe and Ivorian nationals into Liberia, particularly in forest-rich regions where illegal cocoa farming and mining are reportedly on the rise. The Coalition has linked this unregulated migration to widespread deforestation, land conflicts, and escalating tensions between locals and foreign nationals. In one instance, local reports confirmed a fatal clash in a southeastern community, underscoring the urgency of the matter.
Particularly troubling is the state of Liberia’s protected forests, including the Grebo-Krahn National Park, which has emerged as one of the most endangered areas due to illegal human activities. In many cases, local community members are alleged to have facilitated the settlement of Burkinabe nationals by granting them access to forest land for cocoa cultivation. In a high-profile incident, a ranger with the Forestry Development Authority disappeared for two weeks after attempting to halt illegal activities in the park. He was later found, but the case has highlighted the serious risks faced by law enforcement and conservation officers.
Further compounding the issue is a 2024 report by the Ivorian civil society organization IDEF, which revealed that a Liberian village had granted forest plots to dozens of Ivorian nationals. The report stated that between December 2023 and January 2024 alone, at least 60 foreign cocoa farmers had moved into three Liberian villages, raising new alarms about cross-border migration and the unregulated occupation of Liberia’s lands.
