LIB STAND

The Vision Bearer of the National Independent Movement for Boakai - NIMBO, Liberia’s Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Honorable Hon. Thomas P. Fallah, has officially arrived in Minnesota along with his delegation.
This arrival precedes a strategic town hall program to be hosted at the Ebenezer Community Church in Minnesota, United States of America.
The primary objective of this gathering is to engage the Liberian diaspora community in Minnesota and to present NIMBO's core objectives.
Deputy Speaker Fallah and his team have been in the United States for the past week, conducting an extensive tour to unite Liberians in the diaspora.
The delegation aims to rally international support for the national developmental agenda of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and to lay the groundwork for his re-election campaign in

Keynote Address By His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. President of the Republic of Liberia
at the Two-day High-Level Consultative Conference on Next Steps for United Nations Resolution A/RES/80/250 on the Transatlantic Slave Trade.

Accra, Ghana

Thursday, June 18, 2026

Your Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana;
Your Excellencies, Heads of State and Government;
Distinguished Representatives of the African Union, CARICOM, CELAC, the Global African Diaspora, United Nations agencies and Institutions, Civil Society, and Development Partners;
Distinguished Delegates;
Ladies and Gentlemen:

It is an honor to address this conference and to serve on the Global Advisory Panel on Reparatory Justice. I thank my brother and good friend, President John Mahama, and the Government and people of Ghana for convening this important gathering.

It is fitting that we meet on these historic shores, still marked by the memory of those who were torn from their homes, families, and communities and forced across the Atlantic. Their suffering still calls us to confront one of history’s gravest crimes against humanity.

We gather to ensure that this resolution becomes not only a statement of historical recognition but also a framework for truth, justice, healing, and institutional repair.

More than 500 years after the first victims were taken across the Atlantic, and 200 years after the trade was formally abolished, the adoption on March 26, 2026, of the United Nations Resolution recognizing the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement of Africans as among the gravest crimes against humanity marks a significant and necessary moral moment.

We honor the millions who suffered and died, those who resisted and survived, and the descendants who continue to live with its effects.

This resolution carries profound significance. It acknowledges the wrongs of the past and recognizes how the continuing vestiges of the Atlantic slave trade shape our present realities and influence the future of our one world.

For Liberia, the legacy of the transatlantic slave trade is woven into the fabric of our national story and continues to shape our understanding of identity, belonging, and nationhood.

Our experience demonstrates that the consequences of slavery cannot be measured solely in terms of lost labor, stolen wealth, or economic deprivation. They also include intergenerational social, cultural, psychological, and political impacts that can persist for centuries.

If we are to pursue meaningful reparatory justice, our efforts must extend beyond financial considerations. They must also embrace historical truth-telling, reconciliation, identity restoration, cultural healing, education, institution-building, and the strengthening of social cohesion.

As we consider the next steps following this historic resolution, Liberia offers its experience as evidence that justice, healing, and reconciliation are inseparable from sustainable development and lasting peace.

With this resolution now adopted, the question before us is simple: what must we do next?

Allow me, therefore, to propose five priorities for implementation.

First, we must develop a common African position and implementation framework in collaboration with CARICOM and Diaspora organizations, supported by a coordinated roadmap with clear priorities, responsibilities, and timelines.

Second, working with the United Nations, we should establish an African Union–United Nations Expert Commission to design a Global Reparatory Justice Mechanism.

Third, we must confront misinformation and erasure through truth, education, and research by strengthening the teaching of African history, preserving archives, and supporting universities and research institutions across Africa and the Diaspora.

Fourth, repairing historical wrongs requires the restitution of stolen cultural artifacts and heritage objects, together with development partnerships that address persistent inequalities rooted in slavery and its aftermath.

The scale and depth of the trafficking of enslaved Africans and racialized chattel enslavement cannot be measured fully in financial terms alone. Yet the transatlantic slave trade, forced labor, and resource extraction generated enormous wealth that shaped the economic foundations of many societies across the world.

There is no doubt that the slave trade and its aftermath contributed profoundly to inequality and underdevelopment in Africa and across the Global South. The past has helped shape the inequities of the present.

Fifth, we call for development partnerships and global initiatives that address persistent inequalities and underdevelopment rooted in slavery and its aftermath, grounded in shared responsibility and mutual respect.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen,

To all those across the world who seek to understand and engage honestly with this history, and to the nations and societies whose shared task it now is to help chart the path forward, the call for reparatory justice is not an effort to assign personal guilt to the present generation for the sins of the past. Rather, it is a call for understanding, empathy, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths.

We invite our partners across the world to share in our anguish, to recognize the enduring consequences of this historic injustice, and to join us in a common commitment to healing and repair.

Together, let us forge a solemn pact that the dehumanization, exploitation, and racialized enslavement of any people shall never, ever again find refuge in our institutions, our economies, or our collective conscience.

Let this be our common promise to humanity and to generations yet unborn.

History has brought us to a rare and defining moment. Future generations will judge us not by the eloquence of our declarations, but by the courage of our actions.

This resolution has opened a door. Whether that door leads to meaningful justice, reconciliation, and healing now depends on our collective resolve.

Let this not be remembered as another conference or another resolution that stirred consciences briefly before fading into history.

Let it be remembered as the moment when the world chose truth over silence, justice over hesitation, and moral courage over the comfort of the status quo.

Today, through us, those voices speak again. They call not for vengeance, but for recognition; not for division, but for reconciliation; not for charity, but for justice.

Let us therefore leave Accra united in purpose and committed to ensuring that the gravest crime against humanity is met with one of humanity's greatest responses: a determined global effort to restore dignity, repair historical wrongs, and build a future founded on equity, shared prosperity, and our common humanity.

If we succeed, generations yet unborn will remember that in this moment, we chose not simply to remember history, but to help shape it.

May God bless our work.

Thank you.

Sinoe Court Sentences 26-Year-Old LDEA Agent to 30 Years for Ra**ng 10-Year-Old Girl.

The Third Judicial Circuit Court in Sinoe County has sentenced 26-year-old Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency officer Alphonso Karway to 30 years in prison for repeatedly ra**ng a 10-year-old girl in Putu Junction community, Wacaba District.

Circuit Judge His Honor Wesseh Alphonsus Wesseh handed down the sentence after the court found Karway guilty of statutory r**e.

According to the indictment, the incident occurred on April 13, 2025. Prosecutors said Karway approached the victim and her younger sister while they were sitting under a palaver hut. He sent the victim to his room to retrieve an item, then followed her inside and sexually assaulted her.

Court documents state the assault caused severe bleeding. Karway allegedly threatened to kill the child if she told her parents or anyone else about the abuse.

The conviction marks one of the toughest sentences for child r**e in Sinoe County this year. Child rights advocates have welcomed the ruling, calling it a strong message against sexual violence and abuse of power by security officers.

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Breaking News ‼️

Government Reduces Gasoline and Fuel Oil Prices to Ease Cost Burden on Consumers

Monrovia, Liberia – June 18, 2026 – The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCI), in close consultation with the management of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC), hereby announces the Petroleum Products Monthly Price Circular for gasoline (PMS) and fuel oil (AGO) on the Liberian market, effective June 18, 2026.

The Ministry informs the public that the prices of both gasoline (PMS) and fuel oil (AGO) have been reduced. Gasoline (PMS) has decreased by US$0.15, while fuel oil (AGO) has been reduced by US$0.30.

New Price Ceiling for Petroleum Products

Effective June 18, 2026, the approved prices are as follows:

Petroleum Product
Wholesale Selling Price (USD)
Retail Pump Price (USD / LD)

Gasoline (PMS)
US$4.66
US$4.94 / L$905.00

Fuel Oil (AGO)
US$5.97
US$6.25 / L$1,145.00

Note: The exchange rate applied for this circular is L$183.1427 to US$1.00, as published by the Central Bank of Liberia (CBL) on June 15, 2026.

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry (MOCl) and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) Inspectorate Team will closely monitor the approved ceiling prices to prevent arbitrary increases in the pump prices of gasoline and fuel oil on the local market. The Ministry will also monitor the effectiveness of the price circular to ensure that importers do not undercut fellow competitors or hoard petroleum products on the market.

The downward adjustment in petroleum prices is expected to provide some relief to consumers and businesses and underscores the continued collaboration between the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company in ensuring price stability and the steady supply of petroleum products across the country.

Liberian Students Crowned African IP Champions, Receive Presidential Recognition

Monrovia, Liberia – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has honored students of the Intellectual Property Club of Maretha International Preparatory High School for bringing pride to Liberia by winning the Regional Intellectual Property Club Competition held in Harare, Zimbabwe.

The competition, which brought together secondary school students from across Africa, promotes intellectual property awareness, innovation, creativity, and entrepreneurship among young people through quizzes, presentations, debates, and other academic activities focused on intellectual property rights.

Receiving the students at the Executive Mansion on Thursday, President Boakai commended them for their outstanding achievement and for representing Liberia with distinction on the international stage. He described their success as a reflection of the talent and innovative potential of Liberian youth and said it aligns with his Administration’s ARREST Agenda, particularly its focus on education, youth empowerment, and human capacity development.

The President encouraged young Liberians to pursue excellence in science, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship as key drivers of national development.

Meanwhile, Liberia Intellectual Property Office (LIPO) Director General, Hon. Garmai Koboi, praised the President for recognizing the students and reaffirmed the institution’s commitment to expanding intellectual property education and nurturing innovation among young people across Liberia.

Representative Samuel Enders Alleges That He Receives Punches and Beaten in King Gray Land Dispute

Montserrado County District Representative Samuel Enders has posted a video on Facebook claiming that he was beaten by individuals attempting to take possession of his land in the King Gray community of Paynesville.

According to Representative Enders, a group of people is seeking to illegally acquire the property despite a court order that has halted all activities on the disputed land pending legal proceedings. He alleged that during a confrontation at the site, he was physically attacked and received punches to the face from those involved in the land dispute.

Ebola Alert: DR Congo Reports 830+ Cases, 196 Deaths

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo have confirmed more than 830 Ebola infections and 196 deaths linked to the rare Bundibugyo strain of the virus.

The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, Jean Kaseya, has called for urgent action to contain the outbreak and prevent it from spreading into a wider regional health crisis.

The news is drawing concern across Liberia, where memories of the devastating 2014–2016 West African Ebola epidemic remain vivid. Liberia was among the countries hardest hit, with thousands of lives lost and significant social and economic impacts.

Health experts continue to emphasize the importance of surveillance, rapid response measures, public awareness, and cross-border cooperation to prevent any potential spread of the disease.

🚨 Public Health Reminder: Ebola is transmitted through direct contact with the bodily fluids of an infected person or contaminated materials. Anyone experiencing symptoms such as fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhea, or unexplained bleeding should seek immediate medical attention.

Former District #10 Representative Yekeh Y. Kolubah from Montserrado County has written ✍️👇👇

that the head of LDEA wants to resign. This is because reliable information has shown that the government is pressuring him to make changes. He is scared of facing sanctions from the U.S. government. More details are coming soon.

Update

President Boakai Arrives in Accra Ahead of High-Level Continental Reparatory Justice Conference

Accra, Ghana:- President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has arrived in Accra, Ghana, to participate in the High-Level Continental Reparatory Justice Conference, where he will join fellow African leaders, policymakers, scholars, and development partners in advancing discussions on reparatory justice and Africa’s historical and developmental aspirations.

Upon arrival at the Kotoka International Airport, President Boakai was warmly received by Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, along with members of the Liberian delegation and officials of the Government of Ghana.

In a gesture of friendship and solidarity, particularly as Ghana prepares to take on Panama in its FIFA World Cup match later this evening, Foreign Minister Ablakwa presented President Boakai with an official Ghana national team jersey at the airport. The symbolic presentation showed the strong bonds between Liberia and Ghana and reflected the excitement surrounding Ghana’s participation on football’s biggest stage.

During the two-day conference, President Boakai is expected to deliver a keynote address highlighting Liberia’s perspectives on reparatory justice, historical accountability, and pathways toward sustainable development and inclusive growth across the African continent. The conference brings together African leaders and stakeholders to advance dialogue on justice, restitution, and the continent’s collective future.

House Mandates Security Agencies to Brief Leadership on Co***ne Seizure at Roberts International Airport on June 29.
The House of Representatives has mandated relevant security agencies to provide a comprehensive briefing to its leadership regarding the recent co***ne seizure at Roberts International Airport (RIA) on June 29, 2026.

The decision followed the appearance of senior government and security officials before the House during its 11th Day Sitting of the Second Quarter of the Third Session of the 55th Legislature on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

Providing updates on the investigation, the Officer-in-Charge of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA), Mr. Fitzgerald Biago, informed lawmakers that the case has been elevated to the National Security Council due to its seriousness and potential implications.

According to Mr. Biago, a joint security investigation identified Emmanuel Zeon as the individual responsible for transporting the shipment to the airport. He disclosed that Zeon departed Roberts International Airport shortly after delivering the cargo and is currently being pursued by law enforcement authorities.

Mr. Biago further revealed that CCTV footage obtained from the airport confirmed Zeon’s movements and his role in delivering the consignment to the cargo warehouse.

Meanwhile, the Deputy Managing Director of the Liberia Airport Authority (LAA), Mr. John Buway, explained that airport screeners became suspicious after detecting discrepancies between the declared contents of the cargo and the images produced by the X-ray machine.

He noted that while the shipment was declared as containing human hair, the X-ray images suggested otherwise, prompting screeners to isolate the cargo and immediately notify national security authorities for further investigation.

Mr. Buway emphasized that the LAA acted in accordance with its regulatory responsibilities and that the matter was subsequently handed over to the appropriate security agencies.

For his part, Justice Minister and Attorney General, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, informed the House that the investigation has significant transnational dimensions involving organized criminal networks operating beyond Liberia's borders.

Cllr. Tweh cautioned against the premature release of information related to the ongoing investigation, warning that public disclosure of names and other critical details could alert suspects and compromise the integrity of the investigation by allowing evidence to be concealed or destroyed.

The Justice Minister further stated that the volume of co***ne seized, which was reportedly destined for export, suggests that the narcotics had already entered Liberia, raising serious concerns about how the shipment crossed the country's borders and entered the airport's cargo system.

Following the hearings, the House directed the relevant security agencies to return on June 29, 2026, to provide a detailed briefing to its leadership on the progress of the investigation and measures being taken to address the matter.

DNS