SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba County – The Liberia National Police in Sanniquellie have charged and forwarded to court 20 workers of AFCONS following violent clashes in Yekepa.
By D. Franklin Doloquee
AFCONS Infrastructure is one of the contractors executing key components of ArcelorMittal’s multi-billion-dollar rail and port expansion. The workers are facing multiple charges, including rioting, disorderly conduct, assault on police officers, and criminal mischief.
According to police, the protest began as a peaceful march through the main streets of Yekepa, with workers chanting slogans and holding placards reading “Pay Us Now!” and “End Exploitation.” The demonstrators were demanding unpaid wages, improved working conditions, and assurances of job security amid reported salary delays that have affected the project for months.
However, tensions escalated near the company’s compound when clashes broke out between protesters and officers. Authorities said some demonstrators began pelting stones at police, triggering a confrontation that turned violent.
Seven officers, including members of the Police Support Unit (PSU), sustained injuries ranging from cuts and bruises to more serious wounds requiring stitches and overnight observation. The injured officers were first treated at a local clinic before being transferred to a hospital in Sanniquellie.
In the immediate aftermath, 27 protesters were arrested and detained at the Sanniquellie Police Station. Of that number, 20 have been formally charged and remanded pending trial, while seven were later released after questioning.
Inspector General Gregory O.W. Coleman visited Sanniquellie on Saturday and commended officers for what he described as professionalism and restraint.
“Our men and women in uniform demonstrated remarkable restraint and skill in de-escalating a volatile situation,” Coleman told reporters outside the police barracks. “Despite the injuries, there were no fatalities and no significant property damage—no vehicles burned, no buildings vandalized. This speaks to the training and discipline of the LNP.”
The incident has renewed attention on labor unrest within Liberia’s mining sector. AFCONS, a major contractor on ArcelorMittal’s US$2.6 billion expansion project, has in recent months faced complaints from workers over delayed payments and working conditions.
Community leaders in Yekepa—a town of approximately 30,000 residents heavily reliant on mining—are urging dialogue between the company, workers, and government authorities to prevent further disruptions.
AFCONS management has yet to issue an official statement, but sources close to the matter say negotiations between the company and aggrieved workers may resume next week.
As the charged workers await their court appearance, local advocates are calling for a swift resolution to avert broader economic consequences for Nimba County, widely regarded as Liberia’s mining heartland.
