Liberia News: Sanctioned Victim Warns U.S.

…To Stay Out Of Liberia’s Politics





Liberia-Sanctioned Senator Bill Twehway has urged Liberia’s Ambassador-designate to the U.S., Dr.Al-Hassan Conteh, to demand that Washington stop interfering in Liberia’s
internal politics, citing U.S. sanctions as a breach of the country’s
sovereignty.

Dr. Conteh and Lewis Brown, Ambassador-designate to Liberia’s Permanent Mission to the
United Nations in New York, appeared before the Senate Committee on Foreign
Affairs for their open confirmation hearing on Wednesday, November 20, 2024, in
the Senate’s main chamber.

During the cross-examination of the nominees, Senator Twehway referenced the U.S.
government’s decision to sanction him and other top officials of the former
ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) government. Twehway, who served as
Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA) during the previous
administration, was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office
of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) for alleged involvement in public corruption.

Other
sanctioned officials include Margibi County Senator and former Minister of
State for Presidential Affairs Nathaniel F. McGill and former Solicitor General
Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus. In its August 15, 2022, statement, the U.S.
Treasury accused Twehway of orchestrating the diversion of $1.5 million in
vessel storage fee funds from the NPA into a private account. He was also
accused of secretly forming a private company to which he unilaterally awarded
a lucrative contract, using family members to obscure his involvement while
financially benefiting from the arrangement.

Twehway, who
has faced significant political and personal fallout from the sanctions, used
the hearing to express his frustration and seek intervention through Liberia’s
diplomatic mission to the United States.

“Mr. Nominee,
the United States has been interfering with our domestic politics here by
sanctioning some top officials of the Liberian government. If you’re confirmed,
please tell the United States of America to stop interfering with the internal
politics of Liberia,” Twehway stated.

He further
described the U.S. sanctions as a violation of Liberia’s sovereignty, arguing
that Liberia would not impose similar actions against U.S. officials. “I want
you to be effective in communicating with the American government to stop
interfering in Liberia’s politics,” he added.

Twehway
expressed confidence in Dr. Conteh’s potential to strengthen bilateral
relations between the two nations but demanded assurances that he would
advocate against such U.S. actions if confirmed. “If confirmed, what assurance
can you give us that when you get to America, you will communicate effectively
with the American government to stop interfering with Liberia’s politics?” he
asked.

In response,
Dr. Conteh, who previously served as Liberia’s ambassador to Nigeria,
emphasized the limitations of an ambassador’s role in shaping the foreign
policies of host countries.

“Senator
Twehway, it is not our prerogative as ambassadors to determine or direct the
foreign policies of other local authorities because all ambassadors are subject
to the local authorities where they serve,” Dr. Conteh replied.

He stressed
the importance of maintaining the longstanding friendship between Liberia and
the United States. “The people and government of Liberia respect the
traditional friendship that has existed between the two countries over the
years,” Conteh said.

Conteh added
that while ambassadors can employ diplomatic channels to address certain
concerns, pursuing a request like Twehway’s would fall outside their
responsibilities. “We can endeavor to use all diplomatic means behind the
scenes to resolve issues, but not to proceed as requested by the lawmaker,”
Conteh said.