MONROVIA – As uncertainty beclouds the actualization of the controversial Ivanhoe Liberia rail access agreement, the Liberian senate last week rose in its plenary to request documentary evidence from the Executive branch of government relative to the transaction and has since suspended reviewing of the deal until the right steps are taken.
While taking the decision, the upper house warned the government that Liberia risks advancing a flawed deal amid mounting evidence that Guinea is pursuing an independent railway strategy and ignoring Monrovia’s request for clarification on using Liberian infrastructure. The demand signals rising legislative concern over the coherence and credibility of Liberia’s cross-border rail cooperation strategy.
The decision of the Senate must have been triggered by Guinea’s inauguration of its new multibillion dollar railway and port facility in Konaikwe attended by regional partners where Liberia was notably excluded from the ceremony.
This diplomatic snub has been widely interpreted by lawmakers and industry observers as a clear indication that Guinea is no longer prioritizing the use of Liberia’s rail corridor for its iron ore exports, undercutting the very premise of the proposed agreement.
Further complicating the situation, Guinea has yet to respond to Liberia’s recent diplomatic request for official clarity on whether it still intends to utilize Liberian rail and port facilities. This silence has raised profound doubts about the viability of the Ivanhoe Access Agreement, which is fundamentally structured around the movement of Guinean ore through Liberian territory.
Despite these unanswered questions, the Legislature is currently holding hearings to review and potentially ratify the Ivanhoe deal. Lawmakers argue that proceeding with ratification is premature and risky since the primary beneficiary of the agreement—the Guinean ore shipments—has not been officially secured.
In a strongly worded letter, the Senate Joint Committee, chaired by Senator Saah K. Joseph, has formally demanded that the National Investment Commission (NIC), the Ministry of Justice, and the Ministry of Transport submit proof of strict compliance with the 2019 Liberia-Guinea Implementation Agreement.
This Implementation Agreement remains the legally binding framework governing all cross-border rail access, requiring, among other things, joint reviews and technical approvals, formal sign-off from both the Liberian and Guinean governments before any rail access agreement can be executed.
The Senate asserts it has seen no documentation confirming that the required Monitoring Committee or the Inter-Ministerial Committee reviewed and endorsed the Ivanhoe deal. Crucially, they have also received no proof of formal communication from the Government of Guinea granting approval or concurrence.
Lawmakers are warning that signing an agreement to transport Guinean ore without Guinea’s public approval exposes Liberia to significant legal and diplomatic hazards. They caution that Liberia could commit to a long-term concession based on ore shipments that Guinea may ultimately choose to route entirely through its new domestic railway.
The Senate’s comprehensive request for evidence includes feasibility studies and funding guarantees, environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIA) and Local Content Plans and certified diplomatic correspondence with the Government of Guinea.
The committee also questioned the absence of any mention of the HPX Liberty Corridor in the proposed concession, a project civil society groups and industry observers widely expected to be integrated.
Legislative sources within the Capitol suggest the push for swift ratification appears “rushed” and may place Liberia at a disadvantage. They argue that opening rail infrastructure to a company whose host country has not publicly committed to the arrangement is fiscally irresponsible.
Civil society groups have echoed these concerns, urging Liberia to avoid signing another concession that lacks transparency, regional cooperation, and enforceable guarantees. They emphasize that the timing of Guinea’s new railway dedication necessitates an immediate pause and reassessment.
With Guinea rapidly expanding its own transport capacity and maintaining diplomatic silence, the future of the Ivanhoe Access Agreement hangs precariously in the balance.