In a growing controversy, 81 members of Liberia’s Traditional Council have accused the government, under President Joseph Boakai, of neglect and financial mismanagement. The aggrieved leaders, who work under the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA), alleged that they have not received salaries for seven months, which they claim is pushing them to the brink of protest.
At the heart of the issue is Minister of Internal Affairs Francis Sakila Nyumalin, whom the traditional leaders accused of halting their salaries. Speaking to Verity News, they expressed frustration, stating that their pay, which they relied on as civil service employees, had been inexplicably withheld.
One elder remarked, “We have been taking pay under Chief Zanzan Karwor, but since his removal in August, we have not received anything. We went to the Civil Service Agency, who confirmed we are employees. However, Minister Nyumalin ordered the Ministry of Finance to stop our money from going to the bank.”
In August 2024, Minister Nyumalin declared the end of Chief Zanzan Karwor’s tenure as the head of the National Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders, citing plans to strengthen local governance. However, this decision has left the traditional workers in limbo, with no clear structure to address their grievances or facilitate payment.
The issue remains unresolved despite Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung’s intervention urging Minister Nyumalin to resolve the matter. Frustrated by the lack of action, the chiefs and elders have written to Speaker Fonati Koffa, Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, and other lawmakers. However, their complaints have gone unanswered.
The unpaid leaders now threaten to unleash the ‘Country Devil’—a powerful traditional symbol—on the government as a protest. “We don’t want to protest in the streets, but we are left with no choice. Our children are out of school, landlords are calling for rent, and we are suffering,” said Special Assistant Samuel Borbor.
Borbor added, “The Minister is holding onto our salaries without any tangible reason, and he feels untouchable because of his connection to the President. We have worked for seven months but are only being offered three months’ pay, which is unacceptable. The traditional community is preparing to act.”
The council members have appealed directly to President Boakai, urging him to intervene and address the issue. “We are traditional people, not troublemakers. But this treatment is unjust. We are asking President Boakai to step in and resolve this matter before it escalates further,” Borbor concluded.
With tensions rising, the government’s failure to act could result in protests and a significant strain on Liberia’s fragile social fabric. The situation underscores growing discontent within local governance and raises questions about the Boakai administration’s handling of internal affairs and traditional authorities.
