By Ben TC Brooks
River Gee County – [May 27, 2025] – The Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), alongside local county officials, has initiated a registration process for individuals believed to be migrants from Burkina Faso living in River Gee and Grand Gedeh Counties.
LIS County Commanders Peter M. Vanyanbah of River Gee and Alex Kpakolo of Grand Gedeh shared in separate interviews that the primary objective of this initiative is to document the status of these individuals and ensure their monitoring within River Gee County.
Both commanders noted that all borders to Burkinabe nationals in the county will remain closed until the registration is completed and further directives are issued.
Reports suggest that numerous Burkinabe nationals have entered Liberia, particularly in these two southeastern counties, without proper documentation.
They are reportedly engaging in activities such as exploiting community forests and concession areas for farming and hunting.
The LIS officials stressed that this registration effort is crucial for managing the influx of Burkinabe nationals and obtaining an accurate count of their presence in the region and across Liberia.
Once the nationwide registration process concludes, eligible individuals will receive a one-year renewable residence permit, according to reliable sources.
River Gee and Grand Gedeh Counties, which border Côte d’Ivoire, have seen an uptick in undocumented migrants, prompting the government to verify these entries, collect precise data, and issue legal documents to those wishing to reside in Liberia legally.
Additionally, Superintendents Milk Swengbe of River Gee and Alex Chersia Grant of Grand Gedeh have called upon their local leaders to report any Burkinabe nationals in their communities for proper documentation.
Community leaders, particularly farmers, have shown support for the government’s initiative, expressing their commitment to contribute to the country’s economic stability and future prosperity.
However, River Gee and Grand Gedeh also shares common boundary within the southeastern region of the country as the two had sub polical division in 2000 declaring River Gee as a county from Grand Gedeh that got her independence in 1964 May.
