Monrovia – Liberia Maritime Authority Former Commissioner General Lenn Eugene Nagbe has criticized the United States Embassy near Monrovia for remaining silent on early human rights violations carried out by the Unity Party-led government in Kinjor and other parts of the country.
Speaking during a radio appearance, Nagbe said it is disheartening that the US Embassy would choose to comment on the suspension of the July 2023 Revised Passport Regulations but not on the human rights abuses committed by the government in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County, and other areas.
“I’m holding the US Embassy accountable for their silence. Why have they not commented about people dying in Kinjor? They (the US Embassy) commented before, but when someone mentions they are suspending passports, they commented. They have a role to play. Either they speak or they remain silent forever. Don’t speak selectively,” Nagbe said.
On Monday, March 18, 2024, Foreign Minister Madam Sara Beysolow Nyanti issued a directive requesting the suspension of Liberian Diplomatic, Official, and Service passports issued under the July 2023 Revised Passport Regulations and reinstated the March 2016 Passport Regulations.
Addressing journalists, the Foreign Minister stressed that the Government of Liberia, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, is suspending the July 2023 Revised Passport Regulations with immediate effect due to what she termed as national security concerns. She emphasized that this action cannot be delayed or deferred.
“Due to national security concerns, the Government of Liberia, through its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, hereby suspends with immediate effect the July 2023 Revised Passport Regulations and reinstates the March 2016 Passport Regulations,” Madam Nyanti said.
She added: “All those holding Diplomatic, Official, and Service passports with a validity exceeding 2 years are hereby requested to return them to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs starting Tuesday, March 19, 2024, with the end date of this exercise being April 18, 2024.”
Shortly after, the United States Embassy near Monrovia issued a statement supporting the government’s action. In a statement posted on the embassy’s Facebook page minutes after the announcement, the US Embassy stated that the government’s move to ensure that passport holders meet official eligibility requirements will benefit not only Liberia but the entire global community.
“The U.S. Embassy welcomes the latest measure taken by the Government of Liberia to ensure all diplomatic, official, and service passport holders meet official eligibility requirements. The Foreign Minister’s commitment to addressing the issue of fraudulent travel documents advances not just Liberia’s national security but that of the international community. Thank you, Foreign Minister,” the statement quoted.
However, Nagbe mentioned that he has requested a meeting with the Political Officer at the US Embassy regarding the latest action.
“I called someone at the US Embassy and asked to schedule a meeting with the Political Officer because I saw a post from the US Embassy congratulating the Minister of Foreign Affairs. I want to ask the American Embassy – when people died in Kinjor, we did not see a post. Whether Weah is the cause or Boakai is the cause, we did not see a post. When an incident happened in the past, they made a post,” he said.
Nagbe continued: “The United States government is very powerful, what they say, what they do, what they comment on – they are influential in Liberian politics. But when people died in Kinjor, did they say anything? No. But when someone announces that all passports are canceled, a comment that suggests that someone doesn’t know what they are doing, then you (US Embassy) say yes, it is good?”
“I requested a meeting with the Political Officer. I’m going to sit with her because there was an incident in Kinjor way back, and they commented. They made a significant post. Now, people have died, and the police shot people who were demonstrating, and they did not comment. But someone mentions that they are suspending passports, and they make comments.”
