Tension mounts in Bomi County after a container was moved onto company property, with claims of official involvement and a disputed presidential mandate.
Tension is reportedly mounting at the Western Cluster Liberia (WCL) concession in Bomi County after unidentified individuals attempted to occupy part of the company’s operational area. The incident occurred Thursday when a group reportedly entered the concession in Tubmanburg and attempted to move a 40-foot container onto the premises. Journalists observed the container being transported, but its ownership, contents, and the authority for its movement could not be immediately established.
Local residents and eyewitnesses alleged that some current and former county officials were behind the move, claiming authorization from higher government levels, though no documentary evidence was presented. One eyewitness claimed an unnamed former official warned of police action if WCL resisted, stating the area was sought for a wood-processing enterprise. The driver reportedly said local authorities instructed him to place the container on the premises, but it remains unclear which authority issued such an instruction.
Western Cluster reportedly resisted the attempted occupation and informed its Monrovia headquarters. The Ministry of Mines and Energy was contacted and maintained that the concession area remains legally under WCL’s control, advising the company to report unauthorized entry. The incident raises questions over control of the concession and the authority behind the attempted occupation. As of Thursday, the identities of those involved, the container's intended use, and official authorization remained unclear.
Why it mattersInvestors and businesses face uncertainty over property rights and official authorization for operations in Liberia's mining concessions.
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