MONROVIA – The Senate Joint Committees on Foreign Affairs and Defense, Security & Intelligence have summoned Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti for a crucial hearing on Monday, March 17, to address mounting concerns over Liberia’s foreign relations. Among the most pressing issues is the looming threat of U.S. visa restrictions and the worsening plight of Liberian students stranded in Morocco due to government neglect.
Liberia is one of 22 countries at risk of facing visa restrictions from the United States if it fails to meet security and immigration requirements within 60 days. The draft proposal, under review by U.S. authorities, points to Liberia’s inadequate sharing of traveler information, weak passport security, and alleged involvement in the sale of citizenship to individuals from restricted countries. If enacted, the policy could severely impact Liberians traveling for education, business, and family visits. Despite these grave implications, the Liberian government has yet to provide a clear response, leaving uncertainty about whether urgent diplomatic action will be taken.
Meanwhile, reports from Morocco paint a dire picture of suffering among Liberian scholarship students, who accuse the government of abandoning them in deplorable conditions. In a formal resolution dated February 27, 2025, the students detailed severe financial hardships since arriving in Morocco in November 2024. They revealed that they were given only $150 upon arrival—an amount they say was insufficient to sustain them. Since then, they claim they have received no further support from the Liberian government, forcing many into desperate living conditions.
Promised dormitory accommodations never materialized, pushing students to rent private housing at their own expense, costing between $60 and $90 per month. Additionally, they were burdened with unexpected charges, including residence permit fees ranging from $80 to $100 and registration costs of up to $100. These unforeseen expenses, coupled with language barriers in Arabic and French, have made their academic experience a struggle for survival rather than a pursuit of education.
The students’ appeal for immediate financial assistance has so far been ignored, despite their claims that they have gone nearly six months without their allowances. In their resolution, they urged the government to establish a more reliable financial support system for future scholarship recipients to prevent similar hardships.
Senator Abraham Darius Dillon, chair of the joint committee, emphasized that these critical matters, U.S. visa concerns, Liberia’s foreign service deployment, and the suffering of Liberian students abroad, demand urgent attention. He confirmed that the hearing would be broadcast live on ELBC 99.9 and other media platforms to ensure public scrutiny.
