Gbarnga, Bong County — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has launched the National Assembly of Chiefs and Tribal Governors, calling the gathering a major step in his administration’s drive to build a more inclusive, people-centered system of governance. The two-day assembly, held at the Administration Building in Gbarnga, brought together traditional leaders from across Liberia, senior government officials, lawmakers, foreign diplomats, and development partners.
The meeting marks the first national forum of its kind under the Boakai administration. President Boakai said the Assembly represents a fulfillment of his promise made upon taking office in January 2024 to “rebrand Liberia and restore public trust” by ensuring that national development is shaped in partnership with local communities. Source: Special Statement by President Joseph N. Boakai, Nov. 20, 2025. In his address, the President emphasized that centralized governance has long undermined Liberia’s development by excluding rural communities from meaningful decision-making.
According to him, Liberia’s renewal depends on empowering local authorities and strengthening grassroots participation. He urged the 55th Legislature to pass the proposed Ministry of Local Government Bill, saying it is essential for fully implementing the Local Government Act of 2018 a cornerstone of Liberia’s decentralization agenda. President Boakai urged chiefs, governors, lawmakers, and all citizens to work together, invoking the traditional phrase “Kwa-PaKu-quieh-ma Ku-Noih-Tuh” a call for collective nation-building. He argued that decentralization must move beyond “lofty policy phrases” and become a practical framework that allows citizens to influence the policies affecting their lives.
The President cited improvements in agriculture, road development, anti-corruption efforts, education, and action against harmful traditional practices as achievements over the last two years. He added that Liberia has regained international respect, pointing to the country’s upcoming seat on the UN Security Council in 2026. He announced that the Assembly would produce an Actions of Mutual Commitment (AMC) document, outlining shared priorities between the government and traditional leaders, with progress to be tracked ahead of the next assembly.
Providing an overview of the event, Internal Affairs Minister Francis Sakila Nyumalin, Sr. said the President ordered the convocation of the Assembly as part of efforts to address Liberia’s long-standing challenge of overly centralized governance. Minister Nyumalin explained that the chiefs being custodians of culture and key actors in rural governance were gathered to engage the President directly on issues of peace, resource management, women’s participation, and national development. Source: Overview by Minister Francis S. Nyumalin, Nov. 21, 2025.
He outlined four major expected outcomes of the forum: 1. An annual national gathering of traditional chiefs. 2. A joint framework of Actions of Mutual Commitments. 3. Consensus on preserving positive cultural practices and eliminating harmful ones such as FGM. 4. Clear roles for chiefs in the AAID and County Development Agenda.
Author: Cooper Sangar
