The Liberian Legislative Delegation on an electoral boundary delimitation study tour in Rwanda has held a fruitful exchange with the leadership of the Liberian Community in Rwanda (LIBCOR), a vibrant diaspora organization committed to cultural preservation, social development, and mutual support for Liberians residing in the country.
Speaking on behalf of the community, Chairman James Edgar Denia, accompanied by Vice Chairman for Administration Selekรฉ Kromah, Vice Chairman for Inter-Agency Affairs Winston W. Cooper, Assistant Secretary Milcal B. Perry, and Treasurer Paulmai J. Zonen, expressed appreciation to the lawmakers for granting them an audience to share concerns affecting their welfare.
The leadership outlined several challenges confronting the Liberian community in Rwanda, including, the absence of a Liberian Embassy or Consulate to provide official representation, especially in cases of legal or administrative issues, Financial hardships faced by some Liberian students whose sponsors are no longer able to cover tuition, rent, and basic living costs and the plight of Liberians in detention for minor offenses, with no consular representation to advocate on their behalf. Chairman Denia emphasized that the Liberian community in Rwanda consists of more than 3,000 citizens, the majority being students pursuing higher education.
He appealed for intervention by the Liberian Legislature with relevant government authorities, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Justice. In response, Hon. Moima Briggs-Mensah, Chair of the House Committee on Gender, Social and Children Protection, and Hon. Prof. Thomas Romeo Quioh, Chair of the House Committee on Elections and Inauguration, encouraged Liberians in Rwanda to remain law-abiding and continue representing the country positively.
The lawmakers assured the community leadership that they would engage the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the need to establish a consular presence in Rwanda to ease challenges such as passport renewal. They will raise the concerns with the Ministry of Justice regarding Liberians incarcerated in Rwanda and will lobby with their colleagues in the Legislature for possible budgetary allocations to support Liberian students studying abroad. The meeting concluded in an atmosphere of mutual respect and solidarity, underscoring the importance of strengthening ties between Liberiaโs diaspora community and the national leadership.
