Liberia: Liberia Moves to Overhaul Mining Law As Second MCC Compact Negotiations Advance

What the report says

Liberia is moving to revise its mining law as part of broader reforms linked to negotiations for a second Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Compact, according to The Liberian Investigator, which says the Law Reform Commission (LRC) is leading the review. The work is meant to examine the current legal framework for mining, identify gaps, and align any changes with the compact’s requirements and timetable.

The article says a high-level inception meeting was held on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2026, at the LRC headquarters in Monrovia. Participants included LRC Chairperson and CEO Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah, MCC Liberia Country Director, Liberia Compact Development Team National Coordinator Kevin George, MCC Program Officer Alieu F. Nyei, and other stakeholders. Discussions centered on setting the scope and method of the review and coordinating the institutions involved.

According to the report, the LRC has already held consultations with lawmakers and completed some preliminary legal and desk review work. It is also working with the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the compact development team. The commission said lawmakers have raised concerns about local content rules in mining, underscoring the need for wider consultation before any final draft is completed.

The broader context is that Liberia is seeking to strengthen governance in the mining sector while advancing the next MCC partnership. The country’s earlier MCC Compact supported electricity and road projects, and mining reform is now among the priorities being considered for the new compact. Any proposed changes would still need to pass the normal legal and legislative process before becoming law.