Monrovia, Liberia – The Liberian government has declared that all Poro and Sande rituals suspended nationally from April 30, 2025, until January 2026. Francis Nyumalin, the minister of internal affairs, stated that the decision aims to achieve a balance between protecting Liberia’s rich cultural legacy and giving national development especially education priority.
According to Minister Nyumalin, the action was taken in response to a directive from the National Traditional Council of Chiefs and Elders, which aims to control customs in accordance with more general development objectives.
The instruction calls for the suspension of all traditional initiation events and the dissolution of all current traditional coordinator positions nationwide. The Traditional Council’s proposals at the county level will be forwarded to the Ministry of Internal Affairs via local superintendents as part of a decentralized coordinator selection process.
According to Minister Nyumalin, the Boakai administration is dedicated to maintaining traditional customs while making sure that education continues to be a primary priority. “We may evaluate and reorganize traditional practices in a way that safeguards the interests of our people, particularly young boys and girls.”
Strict penalties would be imposed on anyone discovered to have violated the suspension, he said, adding that the government will work with local authorities to guarantee complete compliance.
The suspension of the Sande and Poro societies has been a topic of public discussion for a long time. The decision has been hailed by some educators and human rights advocates as a step toward advancing education and protecting children’s rights, but others, especially traditional leaders, have voiced concerns about the possible loss of cultural identity.
