By By: Staff Writer
Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission has alerted President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. to a rapid influx of Burkinabè nationals into Grand Gedeh and River Gee counties, citing mounting pressure on local resources and potential security and humanitarian risks.
LRRRC Executive Director Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu, joined by development partners, presented a joint mission report to the President at the Executive Mansion on Wednesday, May 27, 2026. According to the report, approximately 140,000 Burkinabè nationals are currently residing in the two southeastern counties, with most engaged in mining and agricultural work.
Cllr. Bangalu described the situation as an “alarming national concern” that is straining communities with limited infrastructure and services. “Without a coordinated response, this situation could overwhelm communities already facing limited infrastructure and services,” he told President Boakai.
The President received the findings and instructed that the report be forwarded to Cabinet for broader deliberations on national security and policy implications.
The LRRRC head said the report followed a field assessment conducted jointly by LRRRC, the French Embassy, the United Nations Population Fund, and other UN agencies. He noted that implementing the report’s recommendations will require coordination between the Government of Liberia and international partners. A stakeholders’ meeting with donor partners is expected to be convened to review the findings and discuss support for implementation.
Cllr. Bangalu emphasized that while some recommendations need immediate action, a strategic and coordinated approach backed by national budget allocations and international partnerships is critical to prevent further strain on host communities.
The report did not detail specific security incidents but flagged the scale of the migration as a concern for service delivery, resource management, and social cohesion in the affected counties.
