Liberia Gives Undocumented Migrants Deadline to Comply with Biometric Profiling

The Government of Liberia is preparing to biometrically register undocumented migrants in four counties, with authorities announcing December 31, 2026 as deadline for the exercise.

The initiative, which will initially target undocumented migrant populations, particularly nationals of Burkina Faso, in Nimba, Grand Gedeh, River Gee, and Maryland counties, is intended to strengthen national identity management, improve migration governance, and enhance border security.

The exercise is being coordinated by the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), in collaboration with the National Identification Registry (NIR) and the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), following a directive from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.

Speaking at a press conference, LRRRC Executive Director Cllr. Jerror Cole Bangalu said the exercise will officially launch on November 4 in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, with registration beginning on November 5 and continuing through December 31.

Bangalu emphasized that the exercise goes beyond routine administrative procedures, describing it as a critical national undertaking with implications for Liberia’s security, public administration, and migration management.

He disclosed that migrants who are successfully captured during the exercise will receive unique identities and be enrolled in Liberia’s National Biometric Identification System.

“Every eligible migrant captured through the exercise receives a unique identity and is appropriately enrolled in Liberia’s National Biometric Identification System,” Bangalu said.

He explained that the registration process will establish reliable identification records, giving the government a better understanding of the number, identities, and demographic characteristics of migrant populations residing in the country.

According to him, the National Identification Registry will provide the technical infrastructure and biometric identification expertise, while the Liberia Immigration Service will offer immigration-related technical support.

The LRRRC, meanwhile, will coordinate the profiling and documentation process in keeping with its statutory mandate and the government’s broader migration governance objectives.

Bangalu said the three institutions have constituted a joint technical team comprising experienced personnel to ensure the coordinated implementation of the exercise.

Four counties to host 16 registration centers

To facilitate access and ensure wider coverage, the joint committee has identified registration centers across the four targeted counties.

Nimba County will have four centers, Grand Gedeh County eight, River Gee County three, and Maryland County one center in Pleebo.

The committee is urging undocumented migrants, particularly Burkinabè nationals living in the targeted counties, to report to the designated centers and participate in the exercise within the stipulated period.

Bangalu stressed that the December 31 deadline is firm, urging all affected migrants not to disregard the government’s registration initiative.

“The December 31, 2026 deadline is firm,” he reiterated, calling on migrants to take advantage of the opportunity and cooperate with the authorities.

He also appealed to community leaders, traditional authorities, local government officials, and other stakeholders to help disseminate accurate information and encourage eligible migrants to participate.

Government links exercise to national planning and migration governance

The LRRRC Executive Director said accurate migrant identification and documentation would provide the government with information necessary for informed policymaking, national planning, and improved coordination among relevant institutions.

He maintained that the exercise would be conducted through the coordinated efforts of the three designated agencies, in accordance with their respective mandates and applicable Liberian laws.

Bangalu further assured stakeholders that the government remains committed to strengthening migration governance, protecting national interests, and ensuring that migration is managed through credible identification, documentation, and institutional coordination.

The exercise is expected to provide authorities with a more reliable record of migrant populations in the four counties, as the Boakai administration moves to strengthen the country’s migrat