Liberia: Information on whether a Liberian national identity card (ID), issued by the Ministry of Finance in Monrovia, confers any citizenship or residency status on the holder of the card
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1997 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | LBR26746.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Liberia: Information on whether a Liberian national identity card (ID), issued by the Ministry of Finance in Monrovia, confers any citizenship or residency status on the holder of the card, 1 April 1997, LBR26746.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6ab5080.html [accessed 17 October 2022] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
In a telephone interview with the DIRB, an official of the Africa Faith and Justice Network based in Washington, DC, explained that a national identity card (ID) issued by the Ministry of Finance does not confer any citizenship or residency status on the holder because issues relating to citizenship and residence are handled by immigration officials in the Ministry of Internal Affairs (30 Apr. 1997.).
He explained that in 1988, the government announced that all Liberians must register for and obtain national identity cards (IDs). He further stated that this was a way for the government to raise revenue. The Ministry of Finance was the authority charged with the responsibility of issuing identity cards and there was no proof of identity required (ibid.). Individuals, he stated, had to apply in person by filling in a form and paying a certain amount of money (he did not specify how much). He further explained that although this was supposed to be a national exercise, it did not succed in the rural areas because the government did not have adequate resources to carry out it out (ibid.).
In urban areas, he further explained, the directive met with some resistance as some people opposed it claiming that it was similar to passes issued by the apartheid system in South Africa (ibid.). He stated that most of the people who registered for IDs were university students. He explained that since there were frequent clashes between university students and the authorities, it was advantageous for students to have a national ID because this saved them from harassment (ibid.).
He further explained that there were frequent military check-points along the roads leading to the rural areas. It was helpful to have an ID as those who did not possess IDs could easily be detained or made to bribe their way through checkpoints (ibid.).
This information could not be corroborated by sources currently available to the DIRB. This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.
Reference
Africa Faith and Justice Network, Washington, DC., 30 April 1997. Telephone interview with official.
