By all accounts, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s 2022 gesture to Liberia was one of goodwill and generosity. In the aftermath of persistent economic hardship and the crumbling state of Liberia’s diplomatic infrastructure, Saudi Arabia stepped forward with a US$2.5 million donation. Half a million dollars was allocated specifically to address food insecurity through a rice donation, while the remaining US$2 million was earmarked for the restoration of the war-damaged Ministry of Foreign Affairs building. This was a moment of international solidarity, one that offered the Government of Liberia an opportunity to not only feed its people but also revive one of its key institutions. Yet, three years later, what we are witnessing is not a success story of diplomatic aid well spent but an alarming tale of mismanagement, corruption, and brazen theft of resources intended for the public good.
The delivery of the Saudi donation was not done in secret or through backdoor channels. It was made publicly and with full diplomatic formality. Deputy Ambassador Mohammed Al-Mubarak, representing the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, officially handed over the aid to then-Liberian Foreign Minister Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah in the presence of government officials. The handover, conducted in public view, symbolized transparency and reinforced the Kingdom’s trust in the Liberian government to use the funds for their intended purpose. Official diplomatic communications detailed the terms of the assistance, requested banking information, and confirmed the Kingdom’s willingness to disburse the aid directly to the Government of Liberia. These were not vague promises; they were formalized obligations rooted in international goodwill.
According to the Assets Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT), which is now investigating multiple high-profile corruption cases, more than 25,000 bags of rice donated under this Saudi-funded initiative have mysteriously vanished. This rice, which could have fed thousands of hungry Liberian families, was reportedly diverted under the leadership of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government led by former President George M. Weah. As if that weren’t outrageous enough, there has been little public accounting of how the US$2 million intended for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was used, if at all.
This is not merely a case of administrative oversight. It is one of blatant betrayal of public trust and international goodwill. The rice scandal, currently before the courts, offers a disturbing glimpse into how easily aid meant for the people can be converted into personal or political capital by unscrupulous individuals operating within government machinery. What happened to the full US$2.5 million? How was the $500,000 for food aid managed, and where exactly did the $2 million for infrastructure end up? These are questions that Liberians, and indeed the Saudi government, deserve clear and transparent answers to.
Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin, who heads the AREPT, has vowed that no suspect, whether inside or outside Liberia, will escape justice. He says his taskforce is investigating 26 active cases of alleged theft of public funds and reviewing at least 40 properties suspected to have been acquired illicitly. That is commendable. But it also raises a deeper concern: if such a large-scale misappropriation of international assistance could happen under the noses of public officials without resistance from internal safeguards, what other forms of financial misconduct have gone unnoticed?
It is even more disturbing to note that some individuals, according to Cllr. Martin, have started approaching the taskforce in secret to negotiate voluntary restitution. That confirms what many citizens have long feared: the theft was real, it was coordinated, and it was covered up for years. Yet, this quiet return of stolen goods without public exposure only undermines accountability. Liberia’s justice system must make public examples of those who squandered aid meant to alleviate suffering. Justice cannot be sealed behind backdoor settlements and whispered apologies.
In a country where children still die from hunger and the health system is on life support, the mismanagement of such critical aid is nothing short of criminal negligence. The Saudi grant should have symbolized international friendship and hope for progress. Instead, it has been reduced to another line in Liberia’s growing ledger of corruption cases. More importantly, it places President Joseph Boakai’s administration at a crossroads: will his government merely investigate and publicize, or will it prosecute and punish?
If Liberia is to restore both international trust and domestic dignity, it must go beyond announcements and dig into action. The US$2.5 million Saudi grant is not just a number; it represents meals lost, infrastructure denied, and dignity stolen. Until those responsible are held to account in full view of the Liberian people, justice will remain delayed and trust permanently damaged.
