Liberia moves to create national railway authority
A proposed bill aims to regulate railway operations and promote multi-user access to infrastructure.
Liberia is moving to establish an independent National Railway Authority to regulate railway operations and promote multi-user access. The proposed Liberia National Railway Authority Bill seeks to create a legal framework for railway management, safety, and oversight. On November 4, the Law Reform Commission held a validation exercise in Monrovia with stakeholders including ArcelorMittal Liberia and HPX.
LRC Chairperson Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah stated the legislation would address fragmented railway management and limited access to infrastructure. "This project could no longer be viewed exclusively through the narrow lens of individual mining concessions," Varmah said, emphasizing its potential as a national economic asset. Transport Minister Sirleaf Ralph Tyler called the validation a significant step toward modernizing the sector.
Efforts to establish the authority began in October 2022 under former President George Manneh Weah. President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has advanced the initiative through executive orders since 2024. The proposed legislation aims to replace executive orders with a permanent statutory framework for legislative approval. ArcelorMittal Liberia has supported transforming the corridor into a multi-user facility.
Why it mattersLiberia's railway infrastructure, historically tied to mining, is being repositioned to support multiple economic sectors and national development aspirations.