Liberia moves to set up a National Railway Authority to open its mining railways to other users
A bill validated this week would replace years of executive orders with a permanent law.
Monrovia — Liberia is moving to create an independent National Railway Authority to regulate railway operations and open lines built for mining concessions to other users.
On Wednesday, the Law Reform Commission held a final validation meeting on the Liberia National Railway Authority Bill at the Ministry of Mines and Energy in Monrovia, with ArcelorMittal Liberia, HPX, the Ministry of Transport, the National Oil Company of Liberia and civil society groups.
"A strategic national economic asset"
Commission chair Cllr. Bornor M. Varmah said the railway "must be considered a strategic national economic asset capable of supporting multiple sectors". The bill covers safety, protection of existing concessions, transparent access charges, dispute resolution and financing. "Our objective must be to create an institution that will outlive individual administrations," he said.
Transport Minister Sirleaf Ralph Tyler said an effective railway could support farming, trade, jobs and regional integration.
From executive orders to law
The effort began in October 2022 with Executive Order No. 112 under former President George Weah and was extended by President Joseph Boakai in 2024, 2025 and 2026. The bill would make it permanent, subject to approval by the legislature. ArcelorMittal Liberia has run the Tokadeh–Buchanan railway for nearly two decades.
Source: allAfrica, November 2026.
