THE NEW DUAL CITIZENSHIP LAW OF LIBERIA ‘READINGS AND ANALYSES’

Abstract

The Alien and Nationality Law of 1973 illegalized the dual citizenship practice in Liberia. Hence, the public debate remerged as regard to this issue when Liberians in their numbers migrated and fled the Civil War (1989-2003) seeking refuge in  other nations, where most of them were compelled and constrained to acquire another nationality. Some Liberians view that it should be absolutely allowed referred therein as (The Absolutists), other group of Liberians opine that it should be allowed with certain restrictions (The Restrictionists). In view of this, the subject was listed among other things by the Constitutional Review Committee for a possible amendment as it is impliedly prohibited by the Constitution under article 28. While waiting for the amendment through referendum in 2023 after the first attempt failed to meet threshold in 2020 as declared by the NEC, the new dual citizenship law legalizing the practice had been respectively passed and signed the Legislature and President.  The article aims at discussing the public debates on and positive and negative socioeconomic implications of dual citizenship in Liberia. This work adopts qualitative research method, where it relies on previous published materials and public debates from local intellectual centres, social medial discussions and radio stations’ talks shows on the subject. It is concluded that the new law may open doors of socioeconomic and political opportunities for Liberians by birth with different nationalities and neutralized citizens to comfortably invest in the country’s economy, and of course, may help to change the development narratives of Liberia.