“The Liberian Civil War was mobilized by the diaspora community.”

Liberia’s Deputy Minister for International Cooperation and Economic Integration, Dr. Ibrahim Nyei, has accused the Liberian diaspora community of contributing to the country’s fourteen years of civil conflict, while reflecting and recounting their political, economic, and social contribution to the country.

By Lincoln G. Peters

Executive Mansion, August 7, 2025: Making a brief remark on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, at the official signing and launching ceremony of the Diaspora Engagement Taskforce, a coordinated government and partner initiative, held at the Executive Mansion, Dr. Neyi reflected on the relevance of the diaspora community.

He said their role can’t be overemphasized in national development because the government is fully aware of the contribution they continue to make in Liberia’s politics, economy, and society.

According to him, African countries over the last forty years have realized that the diaspora is not just a community abroad, but an integrated community that contributes to national development.

He stated this is why every country is leveraging the potential, skills, vision, and resources of the diaspora community.

He named the National Patriotic Front of jailed ex-Liberian President Charles Taylor, the Progressive Alliance of Liberia, the Association of Constitutional Democracy in Liberia, and several others as political movements that were mobilized outside, especially in the United States, contributing to Liberia’s civil conflict.

“For us, we are very much aware that our diaspora community is very politically active and engages with national politics far more than the countries they are in. We all know very well that our civil war was mobilized by the diaspora community, in the United States and other parts of the world. The Association for Constitutional Democracy in Liberia, the National Patriotic Front of Liberia, and almost all of the major political forces that impacted political development in this country from the 1930s to the 1990s were mobilized outside of Liberia. Liberians didn’t leave the country to go and mobilize elsewhere; they were staying in those countries. They were all part of the diaspora. The Progressive Alliance of Liberia mobilized in the United States.’’ he recounted.

With the historical context provided, he disclosed that this means the Liberian diaspora community is part of the country’s politics, while at the same time, contributing to the Liberian economy.

Dr. Nyei pointed out that the diaspora economic contribution is immense, recounting that in 2024, remittances from the diaspora were approximately $738 million to Liberia, amounting to 15% of the Gross Domestic Product of Liberia (GDP).

“This includes also what comes through the mobile wallet, especially send wave and mobile money, coming from the United States, Asia, Europe, and Africa. That is a significant and huge economic contribution, which is different from the businesses they have here, including real estate and used cars dealing, among others,’ he stated.

“The Liberian diaspora Community wears Liberian clothes, speaks Liberian Pidgin, and showcases the country’s traditional dishes to the world, which attracts tourists and others to the country. So, these are the three main lines we have discovered from the diaspora involvement in the country,’ he added.

The Diaspora Engagement Task Force (DETF) was officially launched on Wednesday, August 6, 2025, through the Diaspora Office at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs. -Edited by Othello B. Garblah.