The Freedom House Report has graded Liberia 64% in its latest report, which highlights the country’s ongoing efforts to rebuild and stabilize after two decades of peace since the end of its second civil war in 2003.
The report provides a comprehensive overview of Liberia’s progress and persistent challenges in political rights and personal freedoms.
Key Developments in 2023
In November 2023, Liberia witnessed a significant political shift as opposition Unity Party candidate Joseph N. Boakai won the presidential election in a runoff, narrowly defeating incumbent George M. Weah.
The Freedom House Report highlighted that despite a generally peaceful election period, there were reports of violence and issues with pro-government media coverage and the misuse of state resources marred the process.
The report also noted that the general legislative and presidential elections held in October resulted in the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) becoming the largest party in the lower house and securing a plurality of Senate seats.
In December 2023, the U.S. government State Department imposed sanctions on former finance minister Samuel Tweah and two senators for bribery, while former City Mayor of Monrovia Jefferson Koijee faced sanctions earlier in the month for corruption and human rights abuses.
The report underscores significant issues in Liberia’s justice system.
The report states that despite constitutional guarantees, due process is often neglected, with many detainees spending more time in pretrial detention than they would if convicted.
The report highlighted a UN Development Programme report from April 2023, which revealed that 71% of inmates were pretrial detainees, facing poor conditions and reported abuse by law enforcement and prison guards.
This latest report from Freedom House revealed that corruption remains rampant in the country, with wealthy individuals, especially politicians, able to influence judicial outcomes through bribery. Arbitrary arrests by law enforcement were also highlighted in this report.
According to the report, public perception of the police force remains negative due to corruption and underfunding.
Personal Autonomy and Individual Rights
The Freedom House Report states that Liberians generally enjoy freedom of movement, though unofficial border checkpoints and occasional bribe demands by border patrol agents persist.
The report highlights land disputes, many of which stem from the civil wars, as a common issue, exacerbated by opaque concession agreements and a backlog in the judicial system.
The 2018 Land Rights Act aimed to formalize community ownership of ancestral land and improve land rights for women. However, this latest report reveals that challenges remain as the Liberia Land Authority struggles with its capacity to handle disputes.
The report also notes that customary practices often disadvantage women in matters of land ownership and inheritance, despite the LRA’s provisions.
The FH report highlights gender-based violence, particularly rape, as a serious issue, with 1,975 reported cases in 2022.
The report also notes that human trafficking for forced labor and prostitution persists, despite government efforts to combat it.
The U.S. State Department’s 2023 Trafficking in Persons Report highlighted a single official’s prosecution and conviction for trafficking involvement, illustrating ongoing challenges in addressing this problem.
While Liberia has made strides in peace and democratic governance, the Freedom House report reveals substantial challenges in political and personal freedoms. Continued efforts are necessary to address corruption, judicial inefficiencies, and human rights abuses to further advance the country’s stability and progress.
