A longstanding land dispute dating back to 1999 has reignited tensions in the Sugar Beach Community Paynesville, Montserrado County District #6, with the latest one involving alleged vandalism, a controversial fence construction, and an unresolved legal battle. Mr. Joseph Mamadee Dorbor, a Liberian citizen who spent years living in the United States, claims that his property was unlawfully occupied while he was abroad, and that efforts to reclaim it have been met with resistance and silence from both neighbors and authorities.
According to Dorbor, the controversy began in 1999 when Jannah Fahnbulleh, now deceased, allegedly constructed a house and a fence on his land without his knowledge or consent. At the time, Dorbor was living in the United States. Upon discovering the encroachment, he retained legal counsel and pursued the matter through the Liberian judicial system.
However, over two decades later, the case remains unresolved in court. “While I was in the States, this lady, Jannah Fahnbulleh, built on my property,” he explained. “She passed away some time ago, and now her eldest son, Chris Boumi, is managing the property. But the issue is still in court and has yet to be concluded.”
Dorbor contends that the late Fahnbulleh’s fence was erected well within his legally owned boundaries. Over the years, he says, his property has been repeatedly vandalized by unknown individuals, a pattern of intrusion that led him to take protective measures. In a bid to safeguard his land, Mr. Dorbor hired a team of contractors to erect a perimeter fence around the property.
“It has become normal for people to trespass and damage my property. That’s why I decided to put up a fence to prevent further incidents,” he said.
The construction, according to him, took approximately a week to complete, but the situation escalated on the night the work was finished. One of the contractors who prefers to remain anonymous described a tense encounter with a resident of the disputed compound.
“After we completed the fence, a man named Chris Boumi confronted us and asked who had authorized us to build there,” said the contractor. “We told him it was Mr. Dorbor. Right after we responded, he took out his phone and began making calls. We overheard him calling someone he referred to as ‘Pastor’ and another woman he described as a next-door neighbor, saying, ‘Pastor, this man is building a fence here again oh.’”
What followed, according to Mr. Dorbor, was a case of vandalism. Though he did not provide detailed descriptions of the damage, he alleges that portions of the property were tampered with in the wake of the confrontation. In response, Mr. Dorbor contacted the Liberia National Police (LNP).
“The police came and took notes, but after that, they just left. Since then, I haven’t heard anything from them,” Mr. Dorbor says. “I’ve done everything the legal way. I’m just waiting for the court to finally rule on the matter so I can reclaim my property once and for all.”
Efforts to speak with Chris Boumi, the man allegedly in charge of the late Fahnbulleh’s property, have been unsuccessful. Repeated attempts to obtain his side of the story were met with silence, further clouding the situation and fueling speculation among neighbors about the legitimacy of both parties’ claims.
The property dispute highlights deeper challenges facing Liberia’s legal and land tenure systems, where overlapping claims, delays in court rulings, and limited enforcement often complicate resolution efforts. Land ownership remains a sensitive issue across the country, frequently leading to long-drawn court battles, communal tension and, in some cases, violence.
Recently some legal experts suggested that until the court issues a binding decision, parties involved in such disputes remain in a state of legal limbo, with unclear boundaries of authority and accountability. Meanwhile, property owners like Mr. Dorbor continue to face the risk of further vandalism and opposition.
“I’ve waited patiently for justice,” Dorbor said. “All I want is what’s rightfully mine, and for the courts to finally put this matter to rest.” As the legal case drags on and tensions continue to simmer, the neighborhood remains on edge, waiting for a ruling that could bring long-awaited clarity—or further deepen an already complex and emotional land conflict.
