In a quest to establish and uphold Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity (DIE) for the Fula, Montserrado County District 7 Representative Emmanuel Dahn has joined forces in calling for the tribe to be considered an official Liberian tribe.
This comes to light following a recent dialogue hosted by the Liberian Media for Democratic Initiatives (LMDI) in Careysburg, Lower Montserrado, where the Electoral District 7 Lawmaker expressed his support for the inclusion of the Fula, Gbee, and Sapo tribes as official tribes in Liberia.
Representative Emmanuel Dahn highlighted the ongoing marginalization and discrimination faced by Fulanis in the country, despite their constitutional rights to citizenship, as acknowledged by them during the dialogue in Careysburg, Lower Montserrado.
He noted that many Fulanis born in Liberia have never left the country, with Liberia being the only home they know.
The lawmaker indicated that they continue to face resentment from tribal elites based on their names, accents, appearances, or behaviors.
Addressing this issue, Representative Dahn has commenced the process to propose legislation that would make Fula an official tribe in Liberia.
He further emphasized the need to erase tribal exclusion promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and peaceful coexistence, while recognizing the Fulanis’ contributions to the economy and national development.
On his official Facebook page, Representative Emmanuel Dahn stated, “I SUPPORT THE CALL FOR INCLUSION OF FULA AS AN OFFICIAL TRIBE.”
According to him, Liberia has seen and continues to witness the undeserved marginalization and discrimination experienced by Fulanis in Liberia and the level of injustices they endure in search of legitimacy and national recognition in their own country.
He noted that the Fula tribe has met all requirements of Article 27 of the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, which guarantees their rights to citizenship; yet, the everyday resentment they face from tribal elites based on their names, accents, appearances, or behaviors seems far from ending.
“It would interest you to hear that many Fulanis born in Liberia have not left Liberia since birth. Those who fall into this category do not know the roads to Guinea, Mali, Sierra Leone, Niger, Senegal, The Gambia, or any other countries that we perceive to be their countries of origin. THE ONLY PLACE THEY KNOW AS HOME IS LIBERIA; yet, they’re being spurned,” he stated.
He believes his call is an effort to erase tribal exclusion, promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and peaceful coexistence, and recognize their immense contributions to the economy and national development.
“In an effort to erase tribal exclusion, promote diversity, equity, inclusion, and peaceful coexistence, and in recognition of their immense contributions to the economy and national development, I have seen the need and commenced the process to propose legislation to make Fula an official tribe in Liberia.”
While this proposal is coming from the Lawmaker, others have reacted to the debate, stating: “When we want to get our passport/documents, they start asking where we’re from and what makes a Fulani a citizen of Liberia, but they’re out here using us for cultural display.”
