By Socrates Smythe Saywon
MONROVIA – The 2024 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for Liberia, released Wednesday, August 13, 2025, by the U.S. State Department through the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia, paints a sobering picture of continued rights violations in the country despite some government efforts at accountability.
While the report notes no significant change in the overall human rights situation compared to previous years, it cites credible accounts of arbitrary or unlawful killings, torture and other forms of inhumane treatment, arbitrary detention, restrictions on free expression, censorship, trafficking in persons, and systematic limits on workers’ rights.
One of the most notable cases involved the April death of an inmate at Fish Town Central Prison, which sparked unrest and a jailbreak. Six corrections officers were implicated, with mixed outcomes: four cleared, one dismissed, and one still under investigation. The report also highlighted the conviction in France of former ULIMO commander Kunti Kamara for crimes against humanity during Liberia’s first civil war, marking a historic step in holding wartime actors accountable.
Press freedom, while constitutionally guaranteed, was found to be under quiet pressure. Instances of political interference, intimidation of journalists, and self-censorship were reported, with one June incident at the Executive Mansion prompting media walkouts over new accreditation rules and advertising demands. Dismissals of public employees for social media criticism of government officials were also flagged.
Labor rights issues remained persistent, with union leaders accusing the government of interference and public-sector workers still barred from unionizing despite constitutional protections. The report documented weak enforcement of wage, safety, and hour laws, particularly in the informal sector, which employs 90 percent of the population.
The State Department also criticized prolonged pretrial detention as a chronic abuse, citing systemic failures such as poor court management, ineffective legal representation, and corruption in the bail system. In one controversial case, a Guinean national accused of plotting a coup in Guinea was held without charge, then handed over to Guinean authorities outside of judicial processes, drawing a rebuke from a Liberian judge.
Allegations of torture and excessive force by security personnel persisted, with the Liberia National Police and Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency cited as frequent offenders. Meanwhile, the report underscored the government’s slow response to outlawing female genital mutilation, despite a three-year national ban announced in 2023, noting high prevalence in rural communities.
Child protection laws were described as inconsistent, particularly regarding the minimum age for marriage, while refugee protection was generally upheld. However, corruption scandals at the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission prompted firings and an anti-graft investigation.
Although the report acknowledged steps taken to punish some offenders, it concluded that Liberia continues to face entrenched human rights challenges, with weak enforcement, political interference, and systemic corruption undermining accountability and reform.
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