MONROVIA – The most important sentence from Washington concerns negotiating tables, far from any courtroom. Acting Justice Minister Cllr. Betty Lamin-Blamo spent two days at a World Bank forum with attorneys general from around the world. Her ministry now says it needs stronger expertise in concessions, mineral agreements and production sharing contracts. That is a candid admission of where the state feels exposed. Liberia wants investors and wants its interests protected. Those goals often collide at the drafting stage. International Law Institute training could help to narrow that gap. The test will arrive when the next concession reaches government lawyers for review. Washington’s handshakes must then become stronger clauses protecting Liberian resources, as THE ANALYST reports.
Cllr. Betty Lamin-Blamo, Acting Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Liberia, has concluded her participation in a World Bank Group forum. It was the Law, Justice and Development Forum of Attorneys General and Ministers of Justice.
It was held in Washington, D.C., at the Grand Hyatt Washington from November 2 to 3, 2026. According to a press release, she was accompanied by the Assistant Minister of Justice for Economic Affairs, Cllr. Joel Elkanah Theoway.
Held under the theme “Legal Leaders as Catalysts for Development Priorities,” the forum brought together attorneys general, ministers of justice and senior legal officials from around the world. They exchanged views on how legal and regulatory reform can unlock private investment and accelerate development.
The Liberian delegation engaged actively with its international peers. It shared Liberia’s recent experience in balancing sovereign economic regulation with international investment protections.
Delegation Holds Strategic Meetings
On the sidelines of the forum, the delegation held strategic meetings with Stuart Kerr, President of the International Law Institute (ILI). It also met Dr. Julie Taylor, Executive Director of the ILI.
The delegation also met with senior World Bank legal leadership. They included Dr. Danielle Malek Roosa, Chief Counsel for Africa at the World Bank, and her colleague, Elsa Le Groumellec.
Discussions with the ILI focused on international contract negotiation and the technical capacity required to manage complex commercial agreements. The Ministry of Justice is prioritizing the enhancement of its legal expertise in negotiating and reviewing major agreements.
They include concession agreements, mineral development agreements, production sharing contracts and Public-Private Partnership (PPP) agreements. The aim is to ensure that Liberia’s national interests are robustly protected while the country remains attractive to investors.
Lamin-Blamo Stresses Predictable Legal Framework
The meeting with the World Bank legal team centered on strengthening institutional partnership and advancing capacity building for PPPs. Speaking on the outcome of the engagements, Lamin-Blamo underscored the purpose of Liberia’s participation in these high-level engagements.
It was aimed, she said, at ensuring that the country continues to build a predictable and robust legal framework. That framework must attract foreign direct investment while safeguarding the national interest.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice remains committed to advancing the rule of law in Liberia. It also remains committed to creating an enabling environment for economic growth and sustainable development.