Internal Affairs Ministry Suspends Traditional Practices in Liberia

Monrovia, Liberia: The Ministry of Internal Affairs has announced the immediate suspension of all traditional practices across the country as of April 30, 2025.

The decision, according to Internal Affairs Minister Francis Nyumalin, is attributed to the proliferation of traditional practices without checks and balances, the hampering of children's school process, and the forceful initiation of teenagers for commercial purposes.

Addressing a news conference Tuesday in Monrovia, Minister Nyumalin disclosed that the decision comes following a consultation with members of the Council of Chiefs across the fifteen counties.

At that meeting, the chiefs, among other things, recommended that all activities involving Sande and Poro societies be suspended until January 2026.

Moreover, the Ministry, through Minister Nyumalin, also set April 30, 2025, as the deadline for those currently in Poro and Sandy Bush to be released.

The ministry vowed to take unspecified actions against would-be violators following the set deadline period.

In a related development, the Ministry of Internal Affairs has dissolved with immediate effect all positions of existing cultural leadership.

According to Minister Nyumalin, the decision was made to allow all county cultural coordinator positions’ recommendations to be done through the office of the county’s superintendents.

Meanwhile, he disclosed plans to meet up with the Council of Chiefs shortly to decide on the regulation of cultural activities.