Monrovia, Liberia, June 5, 2026 – Liberia’s National Security Advisor, Samuel Kofi Woods II, has praised the country’s new National Security Strategy, stressing that more than a decade has passed since the last strategy took effect and that significant changes have since transformed the national and global security landscape. He described the policy document as a major turning point in national security planning, emphasizing that the document was developed through an inclusive process that brought together government institutions, security agencies, lawmakers, international partners, civil society organizations, and ordinary Liberians. The strategy, officially launched on Wednesday at the Executive Mansion on June 3, 2026, marks the first comprehensive review of Liberia’s security framework since the previous National Security Strategy became operational in 2008. Addressing the ceremony, Woods said the policy document seeks to redefine the country’s approach to security by placing citizens, human rights, and prevention at the center of national...

By Lincoln G. Peters Capitol Hill, June 5, 2026: River Cess County Senator and stalwart of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Bill Twehway, has submitted a bill titled the “Democratic Pluralism and Electoral Inclusion Amendment Act,” seeking to amend and permanently repeal the highly restrictive 2% vote-threshold penalty introduced in Chapter 5A of the 2014 Amended Elections Law. In his communication to the Liberian Senate on Thursday, June 4, 2026, Senator Twehway described the bill as a critical piece of reform legislation aimed at fortifying peace, expanding Liberia’s democratic space, and safeguarding the fundamental constitutional rights of all Liberians. He believes that the bill’s introduction will correct historical and structural imbalances in the Liberian electoral framework. Specifically, the amendment seeks to permanently repeal the highly restrictive 2% vote-threshold penalty introduced in Chapter 5A of the 2014 Amended Elections Law. Under the current law, any political party or independent...

MONROVIA – United Methodist University (UMU) is celebrating two of its alumni, Nyemade Pearson and Hellen S. Momoh, after both women earned master’s degrees from Harvard University, in what the institution describes as a proud moment for Liberia’s higher education sector. The achievement is being hailed as a strong sign of academic excellence, resilience and the growing international impact of UMU graduates. Pearson earned her degree from the Harvard Kennedy School, drawing praise for her leadership and academic performance. UMU said the accomplishment builds on the strong undergraduate preparation she received at the university and has attracted admiration both in Liberia and among Liberians abroad. The UMU Graduate School recently honored her for what it called her outstanding service to Liberia. Her engagement with academic institutions and supporters has already brought benefits to the university, including the installation of four air-conditioning units at the Graduate School. Pearson has also expressed...

By Lincoln G. Peters Capitol Hill, Monrovia, June 5, 2026: Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has pleaded with the Liberian Senate for pardon over government’s failure to implement the Revenue Sharing Law, as pressure mounts over funds owed to counties. Ngafuan appeared before the Senate on Thursday, June 4, 2026, alongside officials of the Justice and Local Government ministries, after Nimba County Senator Samuel Kogar demanded explanation over ArcelorMittal funds reportedly due the county under the Revenue Sharing Law. Facing senators’ concerns, Ngafuan apologized and blamed the delay on the failure to establish the Local Government Fiscal Boards, which he said are required under Sections 4.26 and 4.28 of the Act. “As institutions of government, we can only apologize to this body and to the Liberian people that this process has been delayed, not for lack of will, but because the institutions were not ready at the...

Monrovia, Liberia, June 5, 2026 – Liberia’s trade with India has recorded a significant rise, with official data from India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry confirming that bilateral trade between the two countries reached US$390.06 million in 2025–2026, further cementing India’s position as one of Liberia’s key economic partners. The figures, drawn from India’s trade statistics, reflect a story of steady growth, deepening cooperation, and a notable surge in Liberian exports that many see as a milestone worth highlighting. A review of the five-year India–Liberia trade performance shows a relationship that has strengthened consistently, even amid global economic disruptions. A key highlight of the latest data is the near-tripling of Liberian exports to India, rising from US$20.39 million in 2024–2025 to US$44.91 million in 2025–2026, an increase of more than 120 percent. This growth is partly linked to India’s Duty-Free Tariff Preference (DFTP) Scheme, introduced in 2012, under which Liberia...

By Bridgett Milton CAPITOL HILL, June 5, 2026 — The House of Representatives has passed a vote of no confidence in Ambassador-at-Large Sheikh Moustapha Kouyateh over remarks he allegedly made against the Legislature. The decision was taken on Thursday, June 4, following a complaint by Grand Bassa County District #2 Representative Clarence Banks, who accused the ambassador of refusing to withdraw comments he made about the House. In his communication, Rep. Banks said he encountered Ambassador Kouyateh on May 31 at OK FM, where both men were scheduled to appear on separate segments of the station’s morning program. Banks said that while they were in the station’s guest waiting area, he asked Kouyateh about his appearance on the program. He alleged that the ambassador responded that he had not apologized and would not apologize for statements he had made on social media about the House of Representatives. Rep. Banks said...

Vol.16 No. 89 FRIDAY, JUNE 05, 2026Download The post Vol.16 No. 89 FRIDAY, JUNE 05, 2026 appeared first on Liberia news The New Dawn Liberia, premier resource for latest news. Source link

By Lincoln G. Peters Sinkor, Monrovia, June 4, 2026: Tension spilled into full view at the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, as the bitter internal leadership battle rocking the Liberian People’s Party (LPP) took a dramatic turn during heated cross-examination by both the complaint and defense teams. At the center of the unfolding political storm was Tamba Samukai, leader of a rival faction fighting for control of the party, who took the witness stand and defended the actions he and other party executives had taken against embattled LPP Chairman J. Yanqui Zaza. But after hours of testimony and sharp cross-examination by lawyers representing Zaza, the NEC Hearing Officer brought the tense proceedings to a halt, adjourning the matter until Wednesday, June 3, 2026, as the commission weighs rival claims over the party’s leadership and constitutional authority. The hearing is now being seen as a defining moment...

By Kruah Thompson MONROVIA, JUNE 4, 2026 – The Interim Director General of the National Public Health Institute of Liberia (NPHIL), Dr. Sia Wata Camanor, is defending the government’s proposed $4.2 million Ebola preparedness budget amid mounting public scrutiny. Dr. Camanor maintains that investing in prevention is far less costly than grappling with the devastation of a full-scale outbreak. Her defense comes after Health Minister Dr. Louise Kpoto informed the Liberian Senate in late May that $4.2 million had been earmarked to strengthen the nation’s Ebola preparedness and prevention, sparking concern among some citizens. According to Dr. Kpoto, the funds will bolster surveillance, border monitoring, rapid response teams, public awareness campaigns, laboratory operations, and other preventive strategies to shield Liberia from a potential Ebola resurgence. At a recent press briefing in Monrovia, Dr. Camanor likened the current criticism to public skepticism during the 2014 Ebola crisis, when calls for early...

By: Kruah Thompson Monrovia, June 4, 2026 — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has ordered Liberia’s joint security forces to take action against illegal miners operating in Gbarpolu County, as the government moves to restore order in affected communities. The directive was disclosed by Information Minister Jerolinmek Matthew Piah during a recent press briefing in Monrovia, where he said the measure forms part of the President’s broader effort to enforce the law, protect communities, and strengthen order in mining areas. Piah said reports from affected areas indicate that illegal mining continues to spread in remote parts of the county, polluting water sources and weakening lawful mining governance structures. He said the government remains deeply concerned about the growing scale of illegal mining in Gbarpolu and other parts of Liberia, citing environmental damage, lawlessness, and rising tensions within local communities. According to the minister, the situation has become a serious national concern...