Liberia: Civil society pushes for land and mining reforms

Civil society organizations in Liberia are advocating for significant reforms to the nation’s land and mining sectors to address long-standing governance issues. Regarding land rights, the Rights and Rice Foundation and the Sustainable Development Institute report that while the Land Rights Act (LRA) has made progress, its effectiveness is being hindered by low budget support and institutional overlaps. Achievements include approximately 70 customary land communities qualifying for deeds, providing land security to 380,000 citizens, while another 150 communities are undergoing formalization.

In the mining sector, the CSO Consortium on Mining is calling for an overhaul of mining laws to combat weak enforcement, bribery, and lack of transparency regarding beneficial ownership. The Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL) has urged the government to amend existing laws to better manage mineral resources and attract investment. Recommendations include establishing a dedicated anti-corruption court and implementing community monitoring mechanisms to ensure mining-affected populations are included in the process.