GBARMA, Gbarpolu County – A government attempt to enforce the nationwide suspension of bush school activities in Gbarpolu County has resulted in violence, injuries, and hostage-taking, as traditional leaders continue to defy the order and clash with state authorities.

By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway

Several local officials and citizens, including commissioners, have been forcibly detained by traditional leaders in Central Gbarma, Lower Gbarpolu, amid rising tensions over the government’s directive to suspend Poro and Sande society activities. Many have reportedly been injured, while others are being held captive in traditional bushes.

The situation follows a March 2025 announcement by the Ministry of Internal Affairs suspending all bush school activities for eight months — from April 30, 2025, to January 2026. 

The move, part of a cultural reform effort, aims to ensure traditional practices do not interfere with formal education.

While 14 of Liberia’s 15 counties have complied with the suspension, Gbarpolu remains defiant.

Among those briefly held hostage were two police officers and an immigration officer stationed at a joint security checkpoint. The officers were detained in a dilapidated hut and reportedly threatened with being burned alive for being non-members of the traditional society. Their release came after the intervention of Internal Affairs Minister Francis Nyamulin.

Minister Nyamulin, who led a delegation to negotiate peace, was forced to retreat after traditionalists refused to cooperate. Over 500 men armed with sticks and machetes blocked the entrance to Central Gbarma, rejecting discussions due to the presence of what they called “non-members,” including women, among the delegation.

“Gbarpolu is the only county refusing to comply,” said Nyamulin, himself a member of the Poro society. “This county has always been a flashpoint. We regret their defiant posture, and this must stop.”

Efforts by Senators Amara Konneh and Botoe Kanneh, as well as local authorities, have so far failed. According to Nyamulin, “The Superintendent, Paramount Chief, and other officials were driven out, and others remain in captivity. The traditional youths are chanting war slogans.”

As the standoff deepens, non-members have begun fleeing Central Gbarma towards the Lofa Bridge, fearing for their safety. Nyamulin has warned of potential violence between residents of Bopolu and Gbarma, should hostilities continue.

“We’re hearing that people from Bopolu are preparing to retaliate,” he said. “If we don’t de-escalate this quickly, it could turn into a full-blown cutlass conflict.”

With peaceful negotiations exhausted, Nyamulin has alerted the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia National Police to provide reinforcements before returning to Gbarma. The government now appears poised to use force to restore order.

Members of the traditional societies argue that their actions are not meant to defy the government but rather to complete the bush school process already underway.

“This is a traditional matter,” said one member. “If we don’t complete the curriculum, people may die — including the chief zoe.”

Monrovia—The National Council of Chiefs has elected a new leadership body under the guidance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. 

By: Yawah Y. Jaivey & Francis Boayue

Paramount Chief Arthur W. Dowah of Boinsen Chiefdom, KoKoyah District, Bong County was elected as the National Chairperson by the 15-member Council, replacing Zanzan Karwor, who served for more than a decade.

The election took place in Gompa, Nimba County, on Friday, August 9, 2024, witnessed by a large gathering of chiefs from all 15 counties, County Superintendents, other local government officials, the media, and civil society organizations.

The election fulfills Chapter Three of the Local Government Act of 2018, signed by former President George Manneh Weah in September 2018. This Act repealed the previous law that established the National Traditional Council led by Chief Zarzar Karwor, replacing it with the current National Council of Chiefs. 

Chief Dowah will serve a two-year term as mandated by the Act.

Chief Dowah, recognized for his extensive experience and commitment to his community, is joined by other elected officials.

Paramount Chief Ballah Gbotorlu of Lofa County, who will serve as the National Vice Chair for Culture and Traditional Affairs, and Paramount Chief Rhoda Garmu of Grand Gedeh County, who will assume the role of National Vice Chairperson for Peacebuilding and Reconciliation.

These leaders bring diverse perspectives and expertise to their roles, aiming to preserve traditional values and promote unity across the nation.

The newly elected leadership of the National Council of Chiefs was inducted on Saturday, August 10, at the Ellen Johnson Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.

Inducting the new leadership of the National Council of Chiefs, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai congratulated the chiefs and elders for their willingness to serve the country.

He emphasized the importance of local governance, stating, “I want to say to you, chiefs and elders who have been elected, congratulations for your interest to serve your country. The local government is the most important part of our nation. You are the closest to our people. The government of Liberia is in your hands to ensure peace and harmony in the remotest parts of Liberia.”

President Boakai also highlighted the need for collaboration between the national and local governments, stressing that “the security of this country is in the hands of all Liberians.”

His words: “The art of witch-hunt is stewardship. So, there must be collaboration between us and the local government to ensure power to the people. This is time for it. We have to make sure that the security of this country is in the hands of all Liberians.

Continuing, President Boakai added: “So is about time we support all spectrum of the developmental agenda of the government. The local government has played a major role in settling a whole lot of matters that don’t reach in Monrovia, for this and more, we are glad to work with the new leadership of the newly elected leadership of the traditional council of chiefs and Elders of Liberia.”

He, however, expressed confidence in the new leadership, stating, “We are glad to work with the newly elected leadership of the traditional council of chiefs and elders of Liberia.”

Why Karwor was ousted

Sources within the ruling Unity Party told FrontPageAfrica that Karwor’s removal stems from the manner he carried himself during the 2023 presidential election, reportedly forcing chiefs across the county to support the re-election of former president George Weah. Though FrontPageAfrica couldn’t independently verify this accusation.

As the council navigates this transition, many are keen on how the new leadership change may impact their roles and responsibilities in governance process of the country

Nimba – Internal Affairs Minister, Francis S. Nyumalin, has warned, that the government will not tolerate act of lawlessness from Traditional Brush Masters, who he said are in the habit of intimidating and obstructing the operations of companies in the country.

Minister Nyumalin stressed that such actions contravene the civil administration structure of government and do not benefit the country, its people, and investors.

The warning comes after a recent stalemate between aggrieved affected community members in Nimba County who were agitated against Arcelor Mittal Operations in the area.

The situation led to the Traditional Brush Masters setting up roadblocks, which disrupted the company’s operations.

However, Minister Nyumalin following an intervention, that finally initiated a dialogue between traditional leaders and AML Management, cautioned traditional leaders across the country to refrain from circumstances that conflict with the rule of law.

Speaking in Nimba County following the dialogue with aggrieved stakeholders, Minister Nyumalin underscored the need for civil matters to be left with local authorities while cautioning traditional leaders against interfering in issues involving companies and affected communities.

Meanwhile, the community is said to be calm following the negotiations led by Minister Nyumalin, and the company has returned to resume normal operations.

As part of the agreement reached during the negotiations, the company has committed itself to immediately begin road rehabilitation work in affected communities, among other demands.

As part of the commitment reached, Government Representatives and Inter-agencies will work with Arcelor Mittal and the affected communities to address immediate demands within 30 days.

At the same time, Minister Nyumalin regurgitated the government’s commitment to work with Arcelor Mittal to implement its concession agreement with the people of Nimba County.

Minister Nyumalin likewise urged community stakeholders, to refrain from resorting to violence as a means of seeking redress and emphasized the importance of respecting the rule of law.

Monrovia – Deputy Internal Affairs Minister for Research Planning has stressed the need for improved capacity building at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, aiming at strengthening and providing technicians with the requisite know how for the smooth operation of work at the Ministry.

Report by Willie N. Tokpah – willie.tokpah@frontpageafricaonline.com

Speaking Thursday with FrontPage Africa at his office in Monrovia, Augustus Zayzay said his department has been down the drain of capacity since his ascendancy, something that has been impeding work at the entity, according to him.

He named the solicitation of necessary empirical research, formulation of programs and the lack of monitoring and evaluation unit as key among factors responsible for setback at his department.

Minister Zayzay revealed that the Ministry is currently training ten persons with various technical skills in program development and management, monitoring and evaluation techniques as well as gender mainstreaming amongst others in an effort to tackle serious problems being faced by his department.

“The training runs up to Saturday and the trainers are international UN Volunteers—those are high-core professionals, some with more than twenty years of experience in development and we tapping on their skills, meaning it is going to cause us anything in terms of paying for the training.”

The Deputy Internal Affairs Minister emphasized the importance for a research evaluation unit to be set up at the ministry that will serve as the backbone for technical activities, saying it is currently his office key focus.

He then registered that the implementation of a de-concentration process is paramount to the decentralization process currently being embarked on by the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the establishment of a New Ministry, the Ministry of Local Government.

“That Ministry will have more technical policies and technical role, so we are initiating this in preparation for that great change,” Minister Zazay asserted.

Minister Zazay at the same time pointed out that capacity building at the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a whole is important for efficiency and productivity owing to the fact that required output cannot be given in the face of limited capacity.

“Like I said, in the case of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, we have a lot going on. The Ministry of Internal Affairs is driving to decentralization and we are anticipating that in the long turn, you’re going to have counties taking care of their own responsibilities in terms of administrative governance and political governance.”

Minister Zazay has also reacted sharply to assertions that government works less and earns more, saying their operations are being executed based on taxes from the citizens and public servants are always in ready to provide the needed services to them, but this cannot be observed if the capacities of the people are not built.

He at the same time placed emphasis on gender mainstreaming at the Ministry of Internal Affairs as a result of what he considers as serious marginalization of women in the country in which the ministry is of no exception.

This, he said, can be attributed to Liberia’s culture and value system but noted that women inclusion is crucial to the country’s national renewal.