House Speaker Issues 48 Hour Ultimatum to LRRRC & NDMA Over Displacement of Citizens Near Liberia-Guinea Border

MONROVIA, LIBERIA — March 21, 2026: The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Richard Nagbe Koon has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) and the National Disaster Management Agency (NDMA), demanding immediate action to address the rapidly escalating humanitarian crisis in Sorlumba, Lofa County, where armed Guinean soldiers crossed into Liberian territory along the Makona River and displaced several local residents, leaving citizens vulnerable and exposing critical gaps in state emergency response.

‎The Speaker’s directive, which took effect March 21, 2026, orders both agencies to deploy to the affected area without delay, assess the scope of displacement, and implement urgent relief measures, setting Monday, March 23, as the final deadline for compliance, while warning that failure to respond would carry consequences.

‎The humanitarian situation in Sorlumba has worsened in recent days as local residents report forced evictions from their homes following the occupation by Guinean forces, creating an urgent need for coordinated resettlement and relief efforts to protect citizens whose safety and livelihoods are now at risk.

‎Speaking directly from the affected community in Lofa, Speaker Koon emphasized the government’s primary obligation to protect its citizens and uphold territorial integrity. 

‎“We were elected to protect the Liberian people, and their needs must come first in a situation like this,” he said.

‎The ultimatum comes amid ongoing diplomatic negotiations between Monrovia and Conakry, led by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, aimed at resolving lingering boundary disputes; however, the absence of immediate intervention by domestic agencies has compounded the urgency of the crisis on the ground.

‎“The institutions were established to respond in moments like this, and their absence here raises serious concerns about our national preparedness,” Koon added, criticizing the delayed presence of both the LRRRC and NDMA, which have statutory mandates to act during emergencies affecting displaced citizens and border communities.

‎The Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission is tasked with managing the protection, repatriation, and resettlement of refugees and internally displaced persons, and under Koon’s directive, it is expected to identify affected residents, coordinate relief operations, and implement immediate resettlement strategies.

‎The National Disaster Management Agency, created to strengthen national disaster preparedness, mitigation, and emergency response, has been instructed to deploy rapid response teams capable of delivering urgent humanitarian assistance, including shelter, food, and medical support to displaced families in Sorlumba.

‎“This is not merely a bureaucratic matter; it is about the lives of Liberians who are facing an immediate threat to their homes, their property, and their safety,” the Speaker stated, reiterating that agencies must act decisively and visibly within the 48-hour window.

‎The ultimatum represents a high-stakes test of institutional accountability, linking statutory mandates with concrete field-level action, while sending a clear message that inaction will not be tolerated when citizen welfare is at stake.

‎The 48-hour ultimatum underscores the urgent need for robust, responsive governance in Liberia’s border regions and establishes a benchmark for state accountability, with Speaker Koon asserting that citizens’ rights, safety, and access to relief cannot be deferred in the face of emergent crises.