Published: September 6, 2024
Capitol Hill – The House of Representatives has unanimously passed the Aliens and Nationality Law of 2024, a landmark bill that seeks to overhaul the country’s citizenship and immigration policies. Introduced by Nimba County District 7 Representative Musa Hassan Bility in February 2024, the bill is set to redefine how citizenship is handled, granting natural-born Liberians the right to retain their nationality even if they become citizens of other countries.
The amended bill, which now heads to the Senate for concurrence, also includes provisions for visa-on-arrival services and long-term residency for foreigners, making Liberia more accessible to international travelers and investors.
The most significant aspect of the amended law is the protection of natural-born Liberians’ citizenship, regardless of whether they acquire another nationality. This provision comes as a relief to many Liberians living abroad, who had previously been forced to give up their Liberian citizenship upon becoming citizens of other nations.
Rep. Bility, the bill’s sponsor, expressed excitement over its passage, stating that it finally brings Liberia in line with global norms. “This bill is significant because for the first time in the history of our country, we have a law that says every Liberian, whether they’re 10 years old or 50 years old, once they are a natural-born Liberian, they have the right to their country,” Bility said.
He emphasized the unfairness of stripping natural-born citizens of their nationality simply because they sought citizenship elsewhere, often out of necessity due to Liberia’s turbulent history. “Our brothers and sisters around the world, our children around the world, will now exercise their citizenship despite holding the citizenship of other countries. This bill just brings us in line with the rest of the world,” he added.
Liberia’s civil war forced many citizens to flee and seek refuge in foreign countries, where they often acquired citizenship for stability. The passage of this bill acknowledges their contribution to Liberia and allows them to retain their Liberian citizenship.
“There are no other countries in the world that practice what we were doing—stopping their citizens from becoming citizens elsewhere simply because people suffer,” Bility remarked. He pointed out that Liberians abroad send significant remittances back home, which bolster the economy. “Half of the United States dollars that the Liberian government uses to keep the economy going comes from these people. The day they stop sending money, your country will stop living,” he said.
In an effort to boost tourism and investment, the bill introduces a visa-on-arrival system, allowing travelers to obtain visas directly upon arrival in Liberia. This system is expected to simplify entry into the country, making it easier for tourists and businesspeople to visit.
“When you reach the border, you’ve got what we call a visa on arrival at the airport, which terminates all the difficulty in getting to Liberia,” Bility explained. He noted that countries like Kenya generate nearly a billion dollars annually from airport visa fees and highlighted that this new system could significantly increase revenue for Liberia.
The bill also allows foreigners to secure up to 10 years of residency, providing them with a stable, long-term option for living and working in Liberia. “This will make business easy. It will make investment, everything easy,” Bility said, adding that this move could open the door to more international investment in the country.
Another notable change in the amended law is its correction of gender discrimination in property ownership. Under previous laws, if a Liberian woman married a foreigner and they owned property, the property would revert to the state upon divorce. This provision has been removed, allowing women to retain ownership of their property after separation from a foreign spouse.
“In the old law, if a woman married a non-Liberian and they owned property, upon divorce, the property was returned to the state. We’ve changed that,” Bility stated, emphasizing that this update addresses a long-standing injustice against Liberian women.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where it must be concurred before becoming law. Rep. Bility expressed optimism about its passage. “I believe that the Senate will concur. We hope to do this for the sake of our fellow Liberians across the country,” he said.
The Aliens and Nationality Law of 2024, if passed by both houses, will modernize Liberia’s immigration and citizenship policies, putting them in line with those of neighboring West African countries like Ghana and Sierra Leone, which already allow dual citizenship. Bility believes this will foster economic growth, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and eliminate discrimination against Liberians abroad.
“This is a step toward a more inclusive and forward-looking Liberia,” Bility concluded. “It’s about time we give our people their birthright and open our country to greater opportunities.”
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