NIMBA COUNTY, LIBERIA – The Nimba County Legislative Caucus has issued a strong statement backing Senator Nyahn D. Twayen in his recent stance against ArcelorMittal Liberia (AML), accusing the iron ore giant of consistently violating its Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) with the government of Liberia and failing the people of Nimba.
In a post on his official Facebook page on Saturday, June 14, 2025, Senator Twayen wrote: “Thanks my Distinguished Colleagues, I’m just diving deeper into the technical and financial innuendos of AML (MITTAL), having gotten the marching orders from you members of the Caucus since.”
The post came hours after the Nimba County Legislative Caucus issued a formal statement declaring its “full and unwavering support” for Senator Twayen’s recent advocacy. The caucus praised the senator’s “courageous stance” against what it described as the company’s “persistent failure to honor key aspects of its Mineral Development Agreement,” including infrastructure development, job creation, environmental protection, and benefits to local communities.
“This position is not only legitimate,” the caucus wrote, “but it also reflects the sentiment of the people of Nimba who continue to bear the brunt of extractive activities with minimal returns in terms of development.”
The statement condemned what it called “reported attempts by ArcelorMittal Liberia to induce certain individuals and groups to publicly oppose the caucus’s position in exchange for personal or organizational gain.” The lawmakers described such actions as “dishonest, divisive, and a direct affront to the principles of transparency, accountability, and democratic engagement.”
The group emphasized that its loyalty lies with the people of Nimba and not with “foreign corporations or special interest groups.” The caucus vowed to remain united behind Senator Twayen and to intensify efforts to ensure AML lives up to its legal and moral obligations.
Stalhand, a spokesperson for the caucus, emphasized the gravity of the situation: “We cannot allow our people to continue living in hardship while a multinational company extracts wealth from their land. Senator Twayen has raised serious issues, and we are backing him fully because the people of Nimba deserve better.”
The lawmakers are calling for a comprehensive review of AML’s compliance with its existing MDA, the implementation of concrete measures to address longstanding grievances from host communities, and an immediate end to what they describe as undermining tactics by the company.
As AML continues to seek renewal of its current agreement, which expires in 2030, the stance taken by Senator Twayen and the Nimba Caucus signals growing pressure on the government to demand more stringent accountability and equitable benefits for affected communities.
