Published: October 21, 2026
MONROVIA — No Liberian city has lost its legal status, Local Government Minister Francis Sakila Nyumalin told the House of Representatives on Tuesday. He disowned his deputy’s announcement that 108 of the country’s 141 cities had been dissolved and said any change in a city’s status must go before the Legislature.
By Alphanso G. Kalama
Nyumalin told House plenary that statements by Deputy Minister for Urban Affairs Fatima Bintu Sirleaf on state broadcaster ELBC on Oct. 7 did not represent the ministry’s position. He apologized to lawmakers for the confusion and public alarm they caused.
“I’m aware the Deputy Minister was on Radio ELBC. If for any reason you heard something contrary, it is not involved,” Nyumalin said.
His appearance followed a communication from Sinoe County District 3 Rep. Alex S. Noah. Noah raised concerns that the reported dissolution violated the Local Government Act of 2018.
On ELBC, Sirleaf had said a government assessment found that 108 cities no longer met the legal requirements for city status, leaving 33 qualified cities nationwide. She said Sinoe County would lose 43 of its 44 cities, Maryland would keep two of its 17 and Grand Kru would lose 32. She said Lofa would keep three of its six cities, Voinjama, Foya and Kolahu; Margibi would lose Marshall; and Nimba would keep all six of its cities.
The announcement alarmed lawmakers, local officials and residents over the possible loss of municipal administrations, jobs and public services.
Nyumalin said the ministry, working with other government institutions and partners, had conducted a nationwide review to determine whether existing cities meet the act’s requirements. He said the review involved consultations with local authorities, lawmakers and residents, followed by a validation workshop in Kakata, Margibi County, in September. He said no action has been taken to dissolve or downgrade any city.
He said the ministry is preparing the assessment report for submission to the Legislature, which will decide what to do. The ministry is also studying the administrative, economic and employment effects of downgrading cities, he said. A city that loses its status could lose its mayor, and the civil servants assigned to its administration would be affected.
“We are assessing how many people will be affected to properly guide our recommendations,” Nyumalin said.
Section 2.16(d) of the Local Government Act sets the minimum requirements for city status. They include a population of at least 10,000, electricity, pipe-borne water, sewage services, waste collection, schools, health facilities, recreational facilities, demarcated wards, cemeteries, transport and communication networks, and business facilities.
Section 2.16(c) provides that existing cities, except Monrovia and county capitals, keep their legal status pending a review seven years after the law’s passage. Under that section, the minister must report to the Legislature on the status of each city for reaffirmation, and cities that fail the criteria are subject to relegation to town status. Section 9.2 provides that counties, cities and townships are established by the Legislature.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Cllr. Augustine S. Chea, former Senate adviser James Brooks and Cllr. Mmonbeydo Joah have argued that only the Legislature can create or change the status of a city. In their view, the ministry’s role is limited to assessing cities, verifying whether they comply with the law and making recommendations.
“The Ministry may verify and recommend; it may not unilaterally legislate,” Chea said.
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