Farmers in Southeast Liberia Fear Land Grab, Conflict Due to Mass Migration of Foreign Farmers  

By Rational Joe Ks Fineboy with the Liberia Forest Media Watch

Citizens from Southeastern Liberia fear that the mass migration of foreign farmers believed to be Burkinabes, in their region might lead to land grab and escalation of land conflicts. The citizens said the increasing number of migrant farmers involved in various types of customary land uses –

particularly cocoa farming, is alarming among the local residents.

They noted that if migrants’ occupation of their ancestral lands is left unchecked, they and their children might lose ownership to their customary land. One of the aggrieved citizens championing the call, Isaac Sieh Bartu-Bartu, Chairman of the Grand Kru County Platform of the Union of Southeastern Farmers Federation (USEFF) accused some residents of facilitating the coming of the migrant farmers in the county. He further noted that allowing these migrant farmers to grow life tree crips will have serious consequences on the citizens and the country.

“These foreign farmers could claim for themselves whatever portion of land they might have occupied for years and this is why we will not sit idle or be silent on this”, said the aggrieved citizens. As County Chairperson, Isaac Sieh Bartu-Bartu said he has communicated their concerns to the institution’s head in Monrovia and the national leadership is looking into it. “This is not only about southeast, it’s a national concern that might take a long time negative effect on the entire country,” said Isaac Sieh Bartu-Bartu.

He also said beside the presence of these migrant farmers in the region, there are other challenges facing farmers in the region that the Secretariat of (USEFF) is working to address by constructively engaging national government. The challenges, he said range from lack of equipment/logistics to funding and capacity building for farmers.

Locals said the prevailing arrangement allows the Burkinabés to own certain portion of farm land they cultivate while the land owner/host take the remaining portion-a sort of two part sharing arrangement .

A source also disclosed that some community members believe that the Burkinabés presence was necessary in the area because they (inhabitants) don’t have the technical skills and logistics to grow crops; referencing residents who have tried to grow crops on their own but have failed over the years.  

The National Coordinator of USEFF, Isaiah B. Dapaye, confirmed assertions made by Isaac Sieh Bartu and other citizens, noting that the issues is a national concern and as institution, they have already initiated various actions aimed at addressing the plight of farmers and people within the region. “We are currently in Monrovia seeking to draw the attention of our government to the developments in the Southeast while also seeking assistance from national and international organizations,” asserted Isaiah Dapaye.

The USEF National Chairperson Dapaye also said a communication has been sent to individual members of the Southeastern Legislative Caucus for a legislative engagement on the matter and other concerns. “This is scheduled for October 31, 2025, at which time we shall be advancing some concrete strategies and initiatives for discussions with honorable members of the National Legislature hailing from southeastern Liberia. We are expected to be at the Capitol Building in the coming days for the meeting and hoping they (Legislators) will be available because they are our leaders and should be concerned and willing to listen to us on these kinds of prevailing issues,” Dapaye added.

It can be recalled that recently, about 48,000 Burkinabés migrants were processed by the Grand Gedeh Detachment of the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS); something some citizens have frowned on.

This call by the Southeastern citizens underscored the need for individuals and national government to strengthen agriculture productivity in the region and ensure local Liberian farmers are given the necessary support.