Liberia’s Concession Agreements Have Failed the People Since 1847 — Sheikh Kouyateh
Liberia’s Concession Agreements Have Failed the People Since 1847 — Sheikh Kouyateh
Liberia’s Concession Agreements Have Failed the People Since 1847 — Sheikh Kouyateh
H.E. Sheikh Al-Moustapha Kouyateh
Ambassador-at-Large for Special Duties
Special Presidential Envoy
Republic of Liberia, has declared that concession agreements signed in Liberia since 1847 have largely failed to serve the interests of the Liberian people.
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Speaking on the state of the nation’s natural resource management, Kouyateh said successive governments — including the current administration — have continued to uphold concession agreements that allow foreign entities to exploit Liberia’s vast natural resources without delivering meaningful or lasting benefits to citizens.
He cited the long-standing Firestone rubber concession as a clear example, arguing that Liberia missed critical opportunities for industrial development. According to him, instead of exporting raw rubber, the country should have developed domestic manufacturing capacity, including tyre and plastics production, to create jobs, transfer skills, and retain value within the local economy.
“If I am given the authority, I will not hesitate to cancel or nationalize the Firestone agreement to ensure Liberia takes full ownership of its resources and determines how they are used for the benefit of its people,” Kouyateh said.
The Ambassador further stated that major mining and iron ore concessions operating in the country should either be renegotiated or terminated entirely, stressing that such steps are necessary to restore Liberia’s economic independence and national sovereignty.
Kouyateh also issued a strong political warning, declaring that he would not support any political leader or party unwilling to cancel or renegotiate concession agreements in a manner that prioritizes Liberian dignity, self-reliance, and long-term economic development.
He emphasized that Liberia’s future, he said, must be built on policies that protect national interests and ensure that the country’s natural wealth translates into real prosperity for its people.
Liberia’s Concession Agreements Have Failed the People Since 1847 — Sheikh Kouyateh
