Liberia Launches Ambitious National Legal Reforms Targeting Land, Mining, and Family Law

The Government of Liberia is advancing a comprehensive series of legal reforms, including plans to establish a National Family Court, strengthen the resolution of land disputes, and overhaul the country’s framework governing mining and mineral resources.

The updates were disclosed on Thursday by the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Law Reform Commission (LRC), Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, during the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing in Monrovia.

Cllr. Varmah announced that a proposed National Family Court will soon handle matters involving marriage, divorce, guardianship, and other domestic relations. A supporting National Family Code has already been completed, validated, and submitted to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for onward transmission to the National Legislature to establish a modern, comprehensive framework for family law.

In parallel, the Law Reform Commission is drafting legislation for a specialized land court and a dedicated national land code. Land disputes remain widespread across Liberia and pose a persistent threat of community conflict if left unresolved. President Boakai highlighted land conflict as a critical national concern during his address to the National Legislature in January, placing the issue at the center of his administration’s reform priorities.

The Commission is also preparing a complete overhaul of Liberia’s mining and mineral sector laws. Cllr. Varmah noted that the current mineral law, enacted in 2000, is severely outdated and fails to reflect current economic realities or natural resource management standards. The revised legislation will expand coverage beyond traditional gold and diamond mining to govern newly identified geological assets, including lithium and copper.

Supported by consultations with the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC), the Ministry of Finance, and the National Legislature, the mining reform aligns with Liberia’s efforts to secure a second MCC compact. The Commission aims to enact a new, comprehensive mining law by the end of October 2027 to attract sustainable investment, curb abuses, protect national resources, and increase government revenue. As part of this effort, the LRC is collaborating with a specialized government task force led by Colonel Abraham Kromah and the legislative Committee on Land, Mines, and Energy to combat illegal mining nationwide.

Beyond sectoral changes, the Commission has finalized a National Law Reform Policy to bring greater coordination to Liberia’s legislative process. Under the proposed policy, all drafted bills must undergo LRC review prior to legislative submission to ensure consistency with existing statutes and full compliance with the 1986 Constitution. The policy has been submitted to President Boakai and the Cabinet for final endorsement.

Initially created by Executive Order under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in 2009 and formally established by an Act of the Legislature in 2011, the Law Reform Commission plays a central role in revising Liberia’s legal code. Cllr. Varmah emphasized that evolving the nation’s legal framework is essential to expanding access to justice, reinforcing post-war democratic stability, and building a firm legal foundation for long-term economic development.