By Grace Q. Bryant
&
Solomon T. Gaye
The Liberian Refugees Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), in collaboration with partners, hosted a one-day national stakeholder dialogue over the weekend to address the influx of over 40,000 Burkinabe nationals in Liberia.
Held at Paynesville City Hall, the dialogue brought together government officials, international partners, and organizations to discuss various issues, including protection, human rights, political and foreign implications, and the environmental, social, and economic impact of the refugees.
LRRRC Executive Director Patrick Worzie provided an overview of the dialogue, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive discussion on the situation of Burkinabe refugees across Liberia’s fifteen counties, including Grand Gedeh, River Gee, Maryland, and Nimba.
Director Worzie attributed the influx to decades of military conflict in Burkina Faso, which has caused significant displacement, and noted that while other countries have started registering refugees with UN support, Liberia has lagged behind due to the ECOWAS free movement framework.
Worzie stressed that more than 40,000 Burkinabe refugees in six counties require urgent verification and registration to ensure their access to essential services like healthcare, education, and sanitation.
He warned that although the situation remains peaceful, the strain on limited resources could lead to conflicts between refugees and host communities.
On behalf of the Minister of Internal Affairs, Assistant Minister for Research and Development Planning Emmanuel Wheinyue called for a comprehensive and inclusive approach, involving local authorities in documenting and understanding the situation.
He underscored the need for proper documentation of those entering Liberia and for dialogue at the local level to address land possession and community relations.
Wheinyue emphasized that the issue must be addressed from the grassroots level, urging local leaders to engage and provide necessary information to the central government.
Meanwhile, the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) confirmed that about 2000 Burkinabe have entered the country through the borders in Nimba County.
The Immigration Assistance Commissioner of Immigration, Richard Mehnpaine disclosed that the LIS’ documented Burkinabe allegedly entered the country through various borders crossing point in Nimba.
According to Commissioner Mehnpaine, many of the Burkinabe entered through the ports in Buutuo, Gborplay, Zuodru, Kparplay, Behwalay and other local borders in the county.
“Many of the Burkinabe are being contracted for brushing the farms of the locals under special agreement for land,” Mehnpaine disclosed.
Since the beginning of 2024, there have been reports of high influx of Burkinabe to in the Kparblee District.
Mehnpaine said to date, they have establishment of seven depots to prevent illegal entry into the county.
The Liberia immigration service has warned citizens hosting the Burkinabe on their farms to report them to the authority so that they obtain proper residence document stressing, “We want to know the total numbers of Burkinabe that has enter in Nimba.”
