Africa-Press – Liberia. The Liberian Senate is expected to open a decisive concession hearing on Monday into the Government of Liberia’s agreement granting Ivanhoe Atlantic rights to use the Yekepa–Buchanan railway to transport iron ore from Lola, Guinea.
Monrovia, December 8, 2025: The session is expected to be one of the most intense reviews in recent years, as senators scrutinize what they describe as major legal, diplomatic, environmental, and financial lapses in the government’s handling of the proposed arrangement.
Ivanhoe Atlantic, which presents itself as a logistics company, is seeking to export Guinean ore through Liberian territory using critical national rail infrastructure. But lawmakers say the deal appears riddled with unanswered questions and missing documentation—raising concerns about transparency, compliance, and Liberia’s negotiating posture.
Implementation Agreement Bypassed, Senators Say
At the center of the controversy is the 2019 Liberia–Guinea Implementation Agreement, the governing framework for all cross-border use of Liberia’s rail and port systems. The agreement outlines a mandatory, multi-step process for any request involving Guinean mining operators.
Under the agreement, Guinea must first issue a Request for Eligibility, followed by Liberia’s receipt and vetting of a Request for Access. After this, the joint Monitoring Committee must review the proposal, and the Inter-Ministerial Committee must formally approve it before any negotiation on an Access Agreement can begin.
But senators say there is no evidence that any of these steps were followed in the drafting of the Cross-Border Access Agreement between Liberia and Ivanhoe Atlantic. No minutes of committee meetings have been released, no review reports exist in the public domain, and there is no record that the Government of Guinea designated Ivanhoe’s proposal as an “Approved Infrastructure Project,” a legal prerequisite under Article 5.1.
Instead, lawmakers argue, the agreement appears to have been negotiated directly between the Liberian government and Ivanhoe Atlantic—sidestepping the safeguards designed to ensure transparency and mutual oversight between the two countries.
Senate Demands Broader Documentation Before Proceeding
Beyond the legal irregularities, the Senate has issued a laundry list of additional documents the Executive must present during Monday’s hearing. These include: a comprehensive feasibility study for the entire project; a board-approved implementation plan; full disclosure of all financing sources; copies of all financial agreements; evidence of Liberian participation at all stages of planning and execution; and approved environmental impact assessments; and proof of community consultations and benefit-sharing mechanisms.
The Senate Committee on Transport and Concessions says these materials are essential to determine whether Liberia is being asked to endorse a project “lacking transparency, accountability, and proper due diligence.”
Diplomatic clarity from Guinea is also missing.
Lawmakers are also demanding certified official correspondence from the Government of Guinea indicating approval—or at least a clear “no objection”—to the Ivanhoe arrangement. The absence of this communication raises additional questions about whether the deal aligns with Guinea’s own national mining and transport plans.
Senate sources say Liberia cannot unilaterally approve a cross-border concession involving Guinean ore without explicit confirmation from Conakry.
As senators prepare to convene at the Capitol, government officials from the Ministries of Transport and Justice, the National Investment Commission, and the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee are expected to face aggressive questioning. Lawmakers want explanations on why major legal procedures appear to have been bypassed, why institutional committees did not meet, and why key feasibility and environmental documents are unavailable.
The Senate has signalled that the consequences could be severe.
In a communication issued November 12, the Committee warned that “the timely submission of this documentary evidence is an explicit and non-negotiable condition for any further consideration or recommendation for ratification.”
Deal Hangs in the Balance
With concerns spanning legality, transparency, financing, environmental impact, community benefits, and regional diplomacy, Monday’s hearing could determine the fate of the Ivanhoe Atlantic railway agreement. Senate sources say that without full Executive compliance, legislative endorsement of the deal could be suspended indefinitely.
Ivanhoe Atlantic’s attempt to secure access to Liberia’s most strategic transport infrastructure now faces its strongest test—one that will unfold under the full public glare of the national legislature
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