Rubber Farmers Protest At Capitol Building:

The House Standing Committee on Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has extended its hearing into the controversial Executive Order No. 166 after nearly four hours of presentations from opposing stakeholders in Liberia’s rubber sector.

 President Joseph Nyuma Boakai signed the executive order on June 26, 2026, imposing an indefinite ban on the export of unprocessed natural rubber, including latex, coagulum, cup lump, tree lace and ground scrap. Effective July 1, the government says the measure is intended to boost domestic industrialization, create jobs, protect rural livelihoods and encourage the production of finished rubber products such as tires and gloves.

 The directive, however, has divided the sector. While the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL) supports the policy, the National Rubber Brokers and Farmers Union of Liberia (NARBFUL) strongly opposes it, arguing that it will create a monopoly for a few processing companies and impoverish smallholder farmers.

 Following conflicting testimonies, the committee’s chairman, Grand Bassa County District 4 Representative Alfred Flomo, instructed all parties to submit written positions with supporting documents before the hearing resumes on Wednesday, July 22.

 As the hearing continued, hundreds of NARBFUL members staged a peaceful protest at the Capitol, carrying placards demanding the repeal of Executive Order 166 and accusing Agriculture Minister Dr. J. Alexander Nuetah of misleading President Boakai into issuing the directive.

 NARBFUL Board Chairman Francis Saywon Younge said the order undermines free market competition by limiting buyers and reducing farmers’ bargaining power. He warned that allowing only a few processing companies to purchase rubber would create monopoly conditions and drastically reduce incomes for thousands of farming households. Younge urged President Boakai to meet directly with farmers before making further decisions.

 Protesters argued that the order threatens their livelihoods, saying rubber sales provide income for food, education and family support. They called for an open market that allows Liberian entrepreneurs to compete freely rather than policies they believe favor foreign-owned processing companies.

 NARBFUL Vice President for Administration Stanley F.J. Sayewolo maintained that the executive order violates Liberia’s free market principles and the Anti-Competition Act of 2016. He also described the measure as unconstitutional because it overlaps with an existing executive order regulating the sector. Sayewolo stressed that most rubber farms are privately owned by Liberian farmers who invested their own resources and should not be subjected to restrictive policies.

 The union further accused Agriculture Minister Nuetah of providing inaccurate information that influenced the President’s decision. During the legislative hearing, the minister acknowledged advising the President based on his experience in the sector.

 Instead of banning raw rubber exports, NARBFUL is calling on the government to encourage investment in local manufacturing, including factories producing tires, gloves and other rubber products, arguing that increased processing capacity would naturally expand domestic demand without restricting farmers’ access to competitive markets.

 NARBFUL President James W. Sayekea also defended farmers’ constitutional property rights, criticized the penalties contained in the executive order, and rejected claims by the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia that the policy benefits the sector. He argued that RPAL primarily represents large plantations and concession companies, while NARBFUL advocates for smallholder farmers.

 Despite the ongoing dispute, the union remains hopeful that President Boakai will review the executive order and adopt policies that promote manufacturing, fair competition and the protection of thousands of Liberian rubber farmers’ livelihoods.