The plenary of the House of Representatives has mandated the Land Authority to work along with Internal Affairs and Traditional Council to submit a comprehensive report on all land cases across the country, progress made and financial implications to that august body on or before September 15, 2022.
The House’s decision was triggered by a communication from River Gee County’s district #3 lawmaker, Francis S. Dopoh.
Dopoh, in his communication to plenary, stated that it has been “donkey years” that tribal land dispute has overshadowed economic and social cohesiveness in Liberia, especially in rural Liberia.
He said today the southeast of Liberia has registered at least twenty-five customary land cases, both in-county and cross-county.
The passage of the Land Right Act and the Local Government Act of 2018 were expected to help in resolving some of these land disputes, but to date the results are scanty. The “drums” of tribal instability as a result of customary land struggle are beating by the day, especially as Liberians are going to general elections, and violence of such could be provoked by election tensions.
Appearing Tuesday, August 30 during the 6th day sitting of the special session to update the representatives on policies, programs and status of resolving these tribal land disputes in the country, were Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Momolu S. Johnson, the Chairman of the National Traditional Council, Chief Zanzan Karwor, and the Chairman of the Liberia Land Authority, Atty. J. Adams Manobah, Sr.
After separate presentations, plenary voted to have the Land Authority, Interior Affairs and Traditional Council work on drafting a plan for the demarcation of boundaries aimed resolving tribal land disputes ahead of the elections.