Internal Affairs Transformed into Ministry of Local Government

Monrovia, Liberia: Liberia has taken a major step toward decentralizing state power as the Ministry of Internal Affairs has officially been transformed into the Ministry of Local Government, ending decades of highly centralized administration.

The transition was confirmed Tuesday by Minister of Local Government Francis Nyumalin, who stressed that the change is legally mandated, not cosmetic.

According to Nyumalin, the restructuring is grounded in the Local Government Act of 2018, which was passed by the Legislature and signed into law but remained largely unimplemented for years.

The Minister explained that the Act provides the legal foundation for shifting authority away from Monrovia to county-level administrations, allowing communities to play a direct role in governance and development planning.

“This is about moving decision-making closer to the people,” Nyumalin said, noting that the reform is designed to improve service delivery, accountability, and local participation.

He emphasized that the transition marks the practical enforcement of the 2018 law, turning decentralization from a policy promise into an operational system.

Addressing concerns over potential job losses or disruptions, Nyumalin assured that the process will be gradual and orderly.

He confirmed that superintendents, commissioners, and traditional leaders will continue in their current roles until the President completes a formal restructuring of the ministry and makes new appointments or reconfirmations in line with the law.

The approach, he said, is intended to prevent governance gaps during the transition.

Under the new ministry, priority will be given to establishing County Councils, which will serve as the main bodies for local decision-making and fiscal oversight.

Once operational, these councils are expected to play a central role in managing county development funds and shaping local priorities.

Observers say the move represents one of Liberia’s most significant governance reforms in years, with the potential to redefine how power, resources, and accountability are distributed across the country.