Africa-Press – Liberia. In a major step toward strengthening refugee integration and legal regularization in Liberia, the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the National Identification Registry (NIR) and the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS).
The agreement was signed on Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at the LRRRC headquarters in Congo Town and forms part of a coordinated national effort to implement Executive Orders 144 and 147, which provide durable solutions for refugees who have chosen Liberia as their permanent home.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, LRRRC Executive Director Jeror Cole Bangalu described the occasion as historic, noting that it represents more than administrative cooperation.
“This ceremony symbolizes Liberia’s enduring commitment to humanitarian protection, regional solidarity, and responsible migration governance,” Bangalu said.
He explained that the MOU aligns the mandates and technical capacities of the three institutions to establish a clear and efficient legal framework for the regularization of integrated refugees. Under the agreement, beneficiaries will be issued biometric resident permits and specialized refugee identification cards, providing secure and verifiable legal identity.
“With proper documentation, our refugee brothers and sisters can access essential services, participate meaningfully in national development, and live free from the fear of legal uncertainty,” Bangalu added. He emphasized that the initiative goes beyond technical processes and represents a pathway to dignity, inclusion, and opportunity.
The Executive Director stressed that durable solutions for refugees require strong institutional collaboration, data harmonization, and seamless operational coordination. Through the MOU, the agencies commit to a unified implementation framework to ensure transparent, timely, and accountable processes for refugee registration, identity management, immigration regularization, and residency documentation.
The agreement also reinforces Liberia’s adherence to international and regional refugee protection obligations while advancing national priorities in migration management and social cohesion.
“This MOU sends a powerful message that Liberia remains a country of refuge, compassion, and respect for the rule of law,” Bangalu said, expressing hope that the agreement will serve as a model of effective coordinated governance.
Also speaking at the event, LIS Commissioner General Elijah F. Rufus reaffirmed his institution’s commitment to effective refugee integration, underscoring the importance of proper identification.
“We are not only identified by our colors; we are also defined by the documents we carry,” Rufus said, highlighting the significance of the new refugee identification framework.
He assured the public that LIS will work closely with LRRRC and NIR to ensure that all eligible refugees are properly documented and that no opportunity for durable integration is missed.
The signing of the MOU marks a significant milestone in Liberia’s ongoing efforts to protect refugee rights, enhance legal certainty, and promote inclusive national development, with inter-agency collaboration expected to play a critical role in strengthening migration governance going forward.
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