Local Govt. Expels Burkinabes  -Frees River Gee’s Jayblokon from Land Grabbers

MONROVIA – In the wake of a protracted tension that had persisted between residents of Southeastern Liberia, particularly River Gee County, and a huge number of undocumented migrants from Burkina Faso, this paper has been credibly informed that the local Government of River Gee County Gee County have succeeded in expelling land-grabbing Burkinabe migrants from Jayblokon in Potupo District. The effort was also made possible by the Jayblokon Development Association Inc. (JDA), a citizens- rights organization based in the United States of America and Liberia. Citizens of the area who confided in this paper say they are relieved that calm has returned to their homeland.

According to certified information in our possession, the Jayblokon-Burkinabes situation came to in 2010 when Burkinabes from neighboring Ivory Coast entered Southeastern Liberia to engage mainly in cocoa farming. Recent statistics show that there are about 44,000 Burkinabes migrants in Liberia spread across counties bordering Ivory Coast, a situation has led to an increase in land-grabbing conflicts in these counties between the locals and migrant Burkinabes, resulting sometimes to injuries and deaths.

Genesis of the conflict

The whole land grabbing episode in Jayblokon accordingly started in January 2023 when one Mr. Alison, an in-law of the Jayblokon people, resident in Abidjan, visited his wife’s Jayblokon homeland and informed the community that he was interested in developing a cocoa farm.

Mr. Allison’s request was accepted with good nature on the part of the citizens of Jayblokon, not knowing that their son-in-law had ulterior motives that would lead to the a wider syndicate of Burkinabe humans traffickers invading their homeland. The traffickers were allegedly involved in cross-border movements of huge Burkinabe migrants into the country to grab land and establish cocoa plantations outside of any legal framework.

Mr Alison having secured the verbal approval of the community, begun moving more Burkinabes incrementally, and before the community could realize, he had brought in 25 strong-men without any legal understanding or written agreement (MOU) with the people of Jayblokon/Potupo.

“He and his team sat with the community and requested 500 acres of land and further struck a deal with the people that they could also help cultivate farms for community members who are desirous of engaging into cocoa farming but at a ratio of 60/40%. Meaning, if a community member owned 100 acres of Land, the Burkinabes would develop and plant cocoa, with 40% of the yield accruing to the land owners and 60% to the Burkinabes, the farm developers,” our JDA source informed this paper.

Upon hearing of the Burkinabe’s land grabs tactics in Jayblokon, the Jayblokon Development immediately contacted their citizens back home, and following series of meetings with the citizens, it was apparent that the Jayblokon people had been deceived and were on the verge of losing our heritage if some actions were not taken swiftly.

“It was even clearer that some local government officials became interested in mortgaging our forest at the expense of the rest of us, to the extent that they have already allotted 35 to 40 acres of land to the Burkinabes without any legal agreement,” the source indicated, noting that every attempt to prevail reason into the minds of the Jayblokon citizens as to the deceptive nature of the Burkinabe arrangement proved futile.

“That was how the government’s attention was drawn to the whole episode, leading to a heightened awareness about the incident, and today, the Burkinabes have been expelled from Jayblokon.

“The idea of the Ghana-Buduram Liberian Refugees example could have been an option, provided if the folks back home were willing to listen, but their minds were made up on the Land-for-Labour arrangement or Joint-ownership of farms between Jayblokon citizens and Burkinabes was weighing strongly on their minds,” the JDA source said.

The lawmakers, participating on the July 31, 2025 of the Forest Hour Show held every Thursday on OK FM, called on the central government to enhance border control, prosecute illegal entrants, and provide greater security presence in rural areas where tensions are rising between citizens and foreign settlers.

Legislative Concerns

It can be recalled how members of the Liberian National Legislature have continued to raise red flags about the influx of Burkinabes in Southeastern Liberia, to the detriment of the citizens.

Representative Jacob C. Debee (District #3, Grand Gedeh County), described the situation in his district as dire and escalating. “My district is the hardest hit,” Rep. Debee stated. “Just this morning, another group of Burkinabé attacked and chopped three others. The victims are now hospitalized, with some taken to a hospital in Ivory Coast and others to Tapita Hospital in Liberia.

He lamented the limited power of lawmakers in such matters, stressing the need for strong executive intervention. “The executive needs to assert its authority. We, in the legislature, don’t have the power to arrest. All we can do is encourage the police and judiciary to act sincerely,” he said.

Debee emphasized that the issue extends beyond Grand Gedeh. “This is a national emergency. What happens in Grand Gedeh affects Monrovia. The Burkinabé have outnumbered our citizens in some communities.”

Furthering lamenting over the conflict, River Gee County Electoral District #3 Representative Johnson Williams in April 2025 reported the death of five persons in the last three weeks.

“Seven persons have so far lost their lives in land conflicts in River Gee County. Just three weeks ago, five persons died in land conflicts. We need concrete steps in addressing land issues in River Gee and the country at large,” reported the River Gee County lawmaker during a The River Gee lawmaker made the heart-jerking revelation on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, during a meeting of the Committee on Mines, Energy, Natural Resources and Environment with the Commissioners of the Liberia Land Authority (LLA).