AGP Executive Report

Ebola Preparedness: Liberia has ordered 21 days of isolation and daily monitoring for arrivals from the DRC, with travelers from Uganda, Kenya and Nigeria subject to monitoring. The House has also summoned health officials to explain the country’s readiness. Government: President Joseph Boakai has warned ministers that underperforming officials could be reassigned or replaced as he pushes for better results. Courts: Peter Bon Jallah has been convicted of statutory rape and kidnapping; the Supreme Court has reserved its ruling in expelled lawmaker Yekeh Kolubah’s case. Jobs and Business: Liberia’s Clean Cities initiative aims to employ 1,250 young people, while Roots & Returns is offering grants of US$250 to US$5,000 to small businesses. Sports: Liberian fighter Dwight Joseph will face Nigeria’s Raphael Uchegbu for the PFL Africa bantamweight title in Kigali on December 12. Technology: Orange Liberia has launched the country’s first 5G service.

Government: President Joseph Boakai warned ministers that officials who fail to deliver could be reassigned or replaced, putting cabinet performance under scrutiny. Courts: Criminal Court “E” convicted NSA staff member Peter Bon Jallah of statutory rape and kidnapping involving a 16-year-old boy, while acquitting him of gang rape. The Supreme Court has reserved its ruling in expelled lawmaker Yekeh Kolubah’s case. Public Health: Liberia tightened Ebola screening after Nigeria confirmed an imported Bundibugyo case; lawmakers have summoned health officials to explain the country’s preparedness. No case has been reported in Liberia. Infrastructure: Hundreds of vehicles remain stuck on the Ganta–Zwedru highway, disrupting trade and medical travel. Economy and Services: Orange Liberia launched the country’s first 5G network, while a new grant program offers small businesses up to $5,000 and the Clean Cities initiative promises 1,250 youth jobs. Sports: NPA Pythons lost all three games in BAL qualifiers and missed out on the Elite 16.

Ebola Preparedness: Liberia is tightening screening after Nigeria confirmed an imported Ebola case. Lawmakers have summoned health officials for a briefing on the country’s readiness as experts urge stronger contact tracing and surveillance. Government Performance: President Joseph Boakai has warned ministers that underperforming officials could be replaced or reassigned as he pushes for measurable results. Court: A Monrovia court convicted NSA staff member Peter Bon Jallah of statutory rape and kidnapping involving a 16-year-old, acquitted him of gang rape and remanded him pending sentencing. Digital Economy: Orange Liberia has launched the country’s first 5G service, though it has not yet announced coverage areas or service details. Infrastructure: Seven solar-powered water systems are set to bring safer drinking water to more than 40,000 people in Montserrado and Margibi. Small Business: Roots & Returns is offering grants of US$250 to US$5,000 to Liberian small businesses, with applications open for its December pitch event.

Crime: A Monrovia court convicted 63-year-old Peter Bon Jallah of statutory rape and kidnapping involving a 16-year-old boy, but acquitted him of gang rape. He was remanded pending sentencing, and his lawyer plans to appeal. Telecoms: Orange Liberia launched the country’s first 5G service, though it has not yet disclosed coverage areas or packages. Ebola Preparedness: The House has summoned health officials to explain Liberia’s readiness after Nigeria confirmed an imported Ebola case, including plans for screening, supplies and emergency response. Mining Reform: Civil society groups drafted reforms to Liberia’s 2000 mining law, citing risks to communities and the environment; lawmakers have rejected a committee report on proposed amendments pending further review. Transport: Hundreds of travelers and vehicles remain stranded on sections of the muddy Ganta–Zwedru highway, disrupting trade and medical travel. Constitutional Dispute: The Supreme Court reserved its ruling in expelled lawmaker Yekeh Kolubah’s challenge to the House, a case that tests whether lawmakers defied a court order.

Ebola Alert: Liberia has tightened screening after Nigeria confirmed an Ebola case following a delayed diagnosis. Authorities are stepping up vigilance as the outbreak spreads across the region. Supreme Court: The Court has reserved its ruling in expelled lawmaker Yekeh Kolubah’s dispute with House leadership over whether a court order was properly served. Education: MCSS students have petitioned lawmakers over prolonged school closures, and the House has summoned education officials. Separately, Liberia’s Girls Can Code initiative aims to train 1,000 girls and young women in digital and AI skills. Youth Jobs: The Clean Cities Initiative is employing about 1,250 young people in sanitation work across more than a dozen communities. War Reparations: Civil society groups have begun medical assistance for survivors of Liberia’s civil wars, an initial step toward a reparations effort long sought by victims.

Ebola Preparedness: Liberia has ordered stronger screening and infection-control measures at health facilities, borders and public institutions after Nigeria confirmed an imported case. No Ebola case has been confirmed in Liberia. Deportation Inquiry: The House has tasked three committees with investigating reports of U.S. third-country deportations to Liberia, seeking details on any agreement and the legal basis for transfers. Supreme Court: The Court is scheduled to hear expelled lawmaker Yekeh Kolubah’s appeal today, testing the House’s disciplinary powers and whether it followed due process. Education Crisis: Monrovia students have protested months of school disruption linked to unpaid teachers; budget figures show the city school system receives just 0.58% of Liberia’s 2026 national budget. War Reparations: Civil society groups have begun medical assistance for people injured in Liberia’s civil wars, a first step toward a victims’ fund as the government’s long-promised reparations program remains unfulfilled.

Military and Accountability: The Armed Forces of Liberia dismissed two soldiers over the alleged assault of a woman in Thinker Village and handed them to police for possible prosecution. Separately, Morocco has delivered military vehicles and supplies, with about 140 Liberian troops expected to receive specialized training there. Education: The House has summoned education officials over Monrovia’s prolonged school shutdown; 201 volunteer teachers have also received payroll approval, while the superintendent cites salary disputes and payroll integration issues. Telecoms: The LTA is consulting on draft rules for mobile pricing and infrastructure sharing, aiming to improve transparency and limit duplicated networks. Public Health: Nigeria’s imported Ebola case is prompting regional vigilance; authorities are tracing 44 contacts, while WHO supports the response. Courts: The Supreme Court is set to hear a long-running dispute over the Dennis family’s 200-acre estate in Paynesville. Sports: Monrovia will host six teams in the African Women’s Basketball League Zone 3 qualifiers from November 2–9, with Liberia represented by Flames and D’Rockers.

Education Crisis: MCSS students took their demands to Capitol Hill as classes remain disrupted. The government says 201 volunteer teachers will join the payroll, while lawmakers have ordered the Education Minister to report within two weeks on school and staffing problems. Public Accountability: A Senate committee alleges Bea Mountain has an unpaid US$1.8 million petroleum-levy bill and wants proof of the company’s claimed exemption. Senator Edwin Snowe also warned that Liberia’s reported US$17.5 million ECOWAS debt could risk sanctions. Mineral Policy: Vice President Jeremiah Koung urged African countries to pursue local mineral processing at a summit in Ghana. Nimba Senator Nyan Twahyen, meanwhile, called for clear boundaries around ArcelorMittal’s concession. Local Governance: A Liberian delegation is studying Rwanda’s decentralization model, while Local Government Minister Francis Nyumalin apologized over a premature announcement about downgrading cities, stressing no final decision has been made. Economy and Jobs: Senator Amara Konneh questioned why reported growth and US$1 billion in revenue have not eased hardship. President Boakai’s clean-city initiative aims to employ 1,250 young people across eight counties.

Defense Cooperation: Morocco has delivered military vehicles and supplies to Liberia, with about 140 Armed Forces of Liberia soldiers expected to travel for specialized training under a bilateral agreement. Mineral Policy: Vice President Jeremiah Koung urged African leaders to protect national sovereignty and secure fair returns from mineral deals, calling for a coordinated approach that supports local industry. Education and Governance: The House of Representatives is set to question officials over the prolonged MCSS school shutdown and the reported downgrading of more than 100 cities, amid students’ demands for teachers to return to class. Deportee Arrangement: Two months after the first group of third-country deportees arrived, further transfers remain unconfirmed; questions persist over the arrangement and the reported plan to receive as many as 1,200 people. Civil Service: The CSA is reviewing up to 6,000 public employees for retirement, aiming to complete the process by year-end, with pension payments expected to begin in January 2027.

Education: With MCSS schools still shut amid a teachers’ dispute, students demanded action and the House summoned the education minister, school officials and union leaders. Deportee Arrangement: Two months after Liberia received its first group of U.S. third-country deportees, no further arrivals are confirmed; plans for their accommodation and the reported terms remain unclear. Minerals: Vice President Jeremiah Koung urged African countries to process minerals locally and secure fair returns, community benefits and stronger safeguards at a Ghana forum. Defense: Morocco delivered military vehicles and supplies, while about 140 AFL soldiers are expected to train there under a bilateral cooperation agreement. Local Governance: Lawmakers are also set to question the Local Government Ministry over the reported downgrading of more than 100 cities. Civil Service: The CSA is reviewing up to 6,000 potential retirees, with the review due by year-end and pension payments expected from January 2027.

School Shutdown: Liberia’s House has summoned Education Minister Jarso Jallah, MCSS officials and teachers’ leaders to explain the month-long disruption and present a plan to reopen public schools, leaving thousands of students without classes. Workers and Hardship: Health workers at Gbarpolu’s Emirates Hospital protested delayed salaries, as residents continue to report high prices and weak purchasing power despite economic growth. Mineral Wealth: In Accra, Vice President Jeremiah Koung urged African countries to understand the value of their resources before negotiating with investors. Liberia is also preparing a mining and energy expo to attract investment and jobs. National ID: Lawmakers are scrutinizing a proposed $52 million national identification deal, including its financial terms and protections for personal data. U.S. Ties: President Boakai received new U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Kristin Gilmore for talks on investment, trade, public health and security.

Girls’ Health: Pregnancies among girls under 15 in Grand Cape Mount rose 71% in 2025, from 94 cases to 161, UNFPA figures show. The increase raises concerns about safeguarding, access to care and a shortage of midwives. Senate Pay Plan: A committee is seeking US$792,552 in next year’s budget for staff raises of up to 71%, as critics urge lawmakers to shelve the proposal amid widespread poverty. Mining and Energy: Liberia has launched LIMEC 2026, an October 28–29 conference intended to attract investment and jobs. Vice President Jeremiah Koung is also in Ghana for a summit on African mineral development. Ports and Flights: A Maryland delegation has begun a 15-day assessment of Greenville Port, with possible equipment support under consideration. Air Sénégal is exploring Dakar–Monrovia flights in 2027, subject to regulatory and operational requirements. Cocaine Probe: A FrontPageAfrica report says a senior security official linked Dutch fugitive Jos Leijdekkers to a cocaine trafficking attempt, but no public charging document names him.

Mining and Regional Ties: Vice President Jeremiah Koung arrived in Ghana for the Mining in Motion Summit, where African leaders are set to discuss cooperation on mineral development. Cross-Border Security: President Joseph Boakai praised Sierra Leone’s police chief during a visit to Bo City, as Liberian and Sierra Leonean police discussed joint efforts against cross-border crime. Regional Justice: Liberian jurist Charlyne Brumskine was elected president of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, becoming the first Liberian woman to lead the regional court. Economy: The IMF approved a $50.16 million disbursement to Liberia, while the government has opened 15 offshore oil blocks to international companies. Infrastructure: The Liberia Airport Authority outlined a proposed $59 million modernization plan for 2027–2031, focused on aviation safety, security, passenger services and domestic connectivity. Digital Policy: Lawmakers have begun reviewing President Boakai’s proposed national digital ID overhaul, while advocates have urged tighter scrutiny of the $52 million deal and its data protections.

Women in Trade: President Joseph Boakai met ECOWAS parliamentarian Mabinty Funna and a delegation advocating greater women’s participation in trade and economic development across West Africa. Airport Modernization: The Liberia Airport Authority has proposed a five-year, US$59 million plan to upgrade safety, security, passenger services and cargo operations, with Roberts International Airport at its centre. Health and Aid: Concern Worldwide’s Liberia director says cuts to aid have contributed to a nationwide shortage of key nutrition treatments, leaving health facilities with few options for severely malnourished children. Regional Football: Monrovia hosted the CAF Champions League first leg between Sierra Leone’s Star Sport Academy and Morocco’s RS Berkane; Berkane won 2-0 at the SKD Stadium. Regional Leadership: Liberian jurist Charlyne Brumskine was elected president of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, a milestone for Liberia and women in regional institutions. Economy: The IMF approved a US$50.16 million disbursement to Liberia, while officials have highlighted mining’s contribution to national revenue.

Airport Modernization: The Liberia Airport Authority has proposed a US$59 million, five-year plan to upgrade aviation safety, security and passenger services, with Roberts International Airport at its centre. Food and Health: Concern Worldwide says Liberia has gone without nationwide supplies of key malnutrition treatments since September 2025, as funding cuts have squeezed aid agencies. Economic Outlook: The IMF approved a US$50.16 million disbursement to Liberia, while the government is offering 15 offshore oil blocks to attract international companies. Regional Justice: Liberian judge Charlyne Brumskine was elected president of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, becoming the first Liberian woman to lead the regional court. Energy and Investment: President Boakai received a briefing on talks for a Millennium Challenge Corporation compact focused on electricity and mining reforms.

Diplomacy: Liberia’s UN ambassador called for civilian protection, humane treatment of prisoners and renewed diplomacy in Ukraine, urging impartial reviews of alleged violations and access for humanitarian monitors. Human Trafficking: Labour Minister Cooper Kruah says the ministry needs more funding and support to investigate cases, prosecute offenders and protect vulnerable people. Child Nutrition: Aid workers in Liberia warn that treatment supplies for severely malnourished children have been unavailable nationwide for more than a year, leaving clinics with few options as funding cuts shrink relief operations. Regional Justice: Liberian judge Charlyne Brumskine has been elected president of the ECOWAS Court of Justice, a first for a Liberian woman. War Crimes Case: The U.S. trial of former Liberian army commander Moses Wright, accused of involvement in the 1990 Lutheran Church massacre, has been postponed until February, frustrating survivors seeking justice. Mining Investment: Africa Finance Corporation is exploring iron-ore and uranium investments, with Liberia among West African countries whose combined output could grow into a major global force.