Fullah Community Meets Boakai -Over Political Exclusion, Social Marginalization By: Yassah J Wright

A high-power delegation from the Fula Community under the banner “Fullah Progressive Union of Liberia (FPU) has met and pleaded with President Joseph N. Boakai to address critical issues effective the well-being and political exclusion of the Fullah Community. The meeting with the President focused on concerns of discrimination, marginalization, inclusion and recognition of the Fula as an official tribe in Liberia. The group through its President, Alahaji Ibrahim Sangare Kamara highlighted instances where government officials and authorized personnel have allegedly denied or delayed the issuance of crucial documents to members of the Fula Community. “Mr. President, our people over the time has been denied access to National documents in the country just because of their names” he said. In furtherance he added that the there are many Fulanis whose documents are ceased by state authorities and they are interrogated when they want to renew their National documents or business registration. “The Liberia business registry will cease our documents if we go to renew them thereby making us to go through unnecessary processes that are not required by law. The immigration officers will put us down from cars, request for documents and when we showed them our documents, they will start asking how we manage to get them, Mr. President, this is unfair,” he added. He also emphasized the need for greater representation within the government thus urging the President to consider qualified members of their community for government positions, arguing that increased inclusion would foster better understanding and address their concerns more effectively.  This plea reflects a desire for greater participation in the political and administrative processes of Liberia. Moreover, the community stressed the importance of official national recognition.  They requested that the Fullal tribe be formally acknowledged among the recognized ethnic groups in Liberia.  This recognition according to them would grant them greater legitimacy and potentially access to resources and programs designed to support diverse communities.  The community also used the medium to extend their heartfelt thanks to the president for appointing one of their member Sheikh Y. Jalloh as a board member at the Liberia Petroleum Refinery Company(LPRC) The President listened attentively to the community’s concerns and promised to investigate the allegations and consider their requests in subsequent time.