Liberia Reviews Migration Policies Ahead of Global Migration Forum

Liberia Reviews Migration Policies Ahead of Global Migration Forum

By: Michael Mike

The Liberian government has convened a national workshop in Monrovia to assess its migration governance framework ahead of the International Migration Review Forum scheduled for May 2026.

The meeting brought together government officials, civil society organisations and international partners to carry out a voluntary national review of Liberia’s implementation of the Global Compact for Safe, Orderly and Regular Migration (GCM), adopted in 2018.

Speaking at the workshop, the Deputy Minister of Legal Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr Jeddi Mowbray Armah, described migration governance as a key national priority. He said sustained support from development partners has helped strengthen institutional capacity, improve coordination among agencies and promote evidence-based policymaking for Liberians at home and in the diaspora.

Since the end of its civil wars in 2003, Liberia has worked to rebuild migration systems shaped by significant cross-border movement and a large diaspora population across West Africa, Europe and North America. The country has increasingly focused on diaspora engagement as a development tool, while also addressing return and reintegration of migrants and cooperating with neighbouring countries including Sierra Leone, Guinea and Côte d’Ivoire under regional free movement frameworks such as the ECOWAS Free Movement Protocol and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The workshop followed an earlier capacity-building training held in July 2025 by the United Nations Network on Migration, which attracted wide participation from government ministries and institutions.

IOM’s Chief of Mission to Liberia ad interim, Mr Dongyuk Park, said effective migration governance depends on strong policies and institutions. He noted that the International Organization for Migration is supporting Liberia to translate global commitments into practical benefits for communities and citizens.

The European Union, which is backing Liberia’s voluntary national review through the GCM Demand-driven Facility, reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening migration governance. EU Ambassador to Liberia, Ms Nona Deprez, said the bloc and its member states remain actively engaged in advancing the objectives of the Global Compact for Migration, including reducing irregular migration, promoting international cooperation and supporting sustainable reintegration.

She added that the EU is supporting Liberia through financial assistance and targeted technical support delivered via IOM and the UN Network on Migration to enhance coordination and institutional capacity.

Liberia is expected to submit its voluntary national GCM review as part of preparations for its participation in the International Migration Review Forum, a global platform for assessing progress on the implementation of the Global Compact for Migration later this year.

Liberia Reviews Migration Policies Ahead of Global Migration Forum