A high-level national consultative dialogue on the influx of over 40,000 undocumented Burkinabés has been held in Paynesville, outside Monrovia to frame a contingency plan to deal with the ongoing situation.

Statistics from the Liberia Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) and its partners such as United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organization for Migration (IOM), among others, shows that the over 40,000 Burkinabés fled their country to seek refuge in Liberia due to violence, occasioned by jihadist attacks and the effects of global warming.

Most of the Burkinabés are said to have entered Liberia through unauthorized border towns and villages in southeastern Liberia.

The Friday’s August 16, 2024 dialogue was initiated by the LRRRC, in collaboration with UNHCR, as well as IOM and other partners.

LRRRC Executive Director —Patrick Worzie informed the gathering that the undocumented Burkinabés are currently spread in six of Liberia’s 15 political subdivisions, precisely in the South East.

He said the situation has reached an alarming proportion that warrants both national and international attention, hence the dialogue.

Issues such as refugee protection, human rights, political and foreign implications, local government concerns, environmental and social issues, and the economic impacts on local communities among others have been considered a priority.

“There is a need for us to elevate this discussion at the higher level that will enable duty bearers, other service providers…, those who are to help us be aware of the situation,” he said.

He said the best way to start addressing the situation is to formulate a comprehensive approach intended to address the challenges head-on.

“This includes addressing asylum seekers’ needs, ensuring their freedom of movement within ECOWAS countries, and facilitating their integration into local communities with necessary support systems,” ED Worzie indicated.

Resources are needed

For now, he indicated that the LRRRC will lobby for the needed resources to ensure the provision of essential policy programs to tackle the situation.

He said the national dialogue clearly represents a significant step towards understanding and resolving the complex issues associated with the influx of the Burkinabés in country.

The day-long event which brought together stakeholders from diverse backgrounds was centered on issues surrounding social, economic, political, environmental, and cultural implications which have been brought to the spotlight due to the influx of the Burkinabés.

Limitation

Assistant Internal Affairs Minister for Research and Development Planning—Emmanuel Wheinyue, said while it is true that there exists an ECOWAS policy on free movement of people; that condition can no longer exist if undocumented Burkinabé stays in the country beyond three months.

“There is a clause of three months, beyond that; they have to inform the state on their status beyond the three months,” he said.

Additionally, Minister Wheinyue underscored the need to seek the inputs of the host communities in the ongoing dialogue.

He insisted that such a critical dialogue will have to be decentralized in order to have the inputs of the host communities.

“We hear a lot about possession of land by people believed to be Burkinabé nationals. Are they forcefully possessing the land concerned? How are they possessing these lands that have been mentioned? Who are their hosts? These are questions that we need to ask,” he said.

For now, some residents of the affected communities have alarmed that some of the Burkinabés have engaged in agriculture, especially the growing of life-time crops such as cocoa, coffee palm oil among others which could potentially breed land conflict.

Security concerns

Liberia Immigration Service-LIS Commissioner General, Steven Zargo for his part, said the shortage of manpower from the LIS and the Liberia National Police is said to be a major contributing factor to the increase in the number of Burkinabés and other aliens entering Liberia daily through the many porous borders with neighboring countries.

He said there are approximately 180 border crossings, sadly only 36 are regularly manned by LIS officers; citing shortage of manpower and logistical challenge.

In an effort to address the situation, the LIS Commissioner General appealed to the Legislature and the Executive branch of government to adequately support the LIS.

Interestingly during the dialogue, the Spokesman for Burkinabés residing in NImba County—Norine J. Wiles, encouraged Liberians not to stigmatize the Burkinabés on grounds that most of them fled to Liberia to seek refuge.

“The only thing they (Burkinabés) are after is to get land and make their farms, they are hardworking people, and I can tell you in a few years from now Liberia will be one of the high cocoa producers in West Africa through these Burkinabés,” he said.

What next?

The Liberia Refugee Repatriation Resettlement Commission says it is currently putting together its report that will inform the national government and partners on how to proceed with the issue involving the undocumented Burkinabés.

It is anticipated that a week-long awareness campaign will be initiated, followed by the start of voluntary registration and profiling of the influx of Burkinabés in the country.

Other critical areas highlighted during the event were safety net for women and children around border communities; political and foreign implication, community and local government documentation process for security stability, environmental, ecological and conservation as well as setback and challenges for forested communities, affected communities relationship with the Burkinabés, social protection implications and impact, economic implications-the gains and challenges among others.