On March 11, 2025, the Liberian government, in collaboration with the Liberia
Immigration Service (LIS) and the project consortium CETIS and ZIP
SOLUTIONS, launched a new Visa on Arrival and Re-entry Permit Issuing
System. This digital system aims to streamline visa applications, enhance border
security at Monrovia-Roberts International Airport, and boost tourism and
investment. The initiative follows the successful introduction of a digital Work
Permit Issuing System in 2022 and aligns with Liberia’s broader goal of public
administration modernization.
The system offers multiple benefits, including faster application processing, cost
reductions, support for the Liberian diaspora’s return, and enhanced national
security through a reliable digital database. Acting LIS Commissioner-General
Elijah F. Rufus highlighted that the project will increase government revenue,
create job opportunities, and move Liberia closer to establishing a central digital
register. The project’s main contractor, CETIS, emphasized its long-term
commitment to Liberia’s digital transformation, ensuring continuous
improvements to the system.
General News
Political Repression in Burkina Faso: Activists Abducted Amid Crackdown
In Burkina Faso, five members of the Servir et Non Se Servir (SENS) movement,
including journalist Idrissa Barry, have been abducted after denouncing massacres
attributed to the Burkinabè army and its auxiliaries. These acts are part of a broader
wave of repression since Captain Ibrahim Traoré seized power in a 2022 coup.
Reports suggest that Fulani civilians are being targeted under the pretext of
counter-jihadist operations, despite government denials. The junta faces increasing
criticism from human rights organizations, with HRW demanding the immediate
release of the abducted journalist. Servir et Non Se Servir (SENS) has
condemned the abductions as an effort to silence dissent and instill fear in society.
Burkina Faso Opposition Activist Idrissa Barry Arrested Amid Fears of Forced Disappearance
On Tuesday, political activist and journalist Idrissa Barry was arrested in
Ouagadougou by unidentified men claiming to be gendarmes. Barry, the national
secretary of the opposition party SENS, was taken away in an unmarked car while
attending a meeting. His colleagues were unable to locate him at any police or
gendarmerie station, and authorities denied ordering his arrest.
The arrest comes just days after SENS condemned alleged attacks by government
forces and allied militias against civilians in western Burkina Faso. Human Rights
Watch reviewed footage implicating these militias in a massacre. The military
junta, in power since 2022, has been accused of silencing dissent and forcibly
conscripting opposition figures into militias.
There are concerns that Barry may be unlawfully forced into militia service. His
disappearance is a serious human rights violation, and authorities must disclose his
whereabouts and release him immediately.
ECOWAS Launches Intra-Regional Tourism Forum in Gambia to Boost Sector Development
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has launched a
five-day intra-regional tourism forum in The Gambia, starting March 17, 2025.
The forum aims to strengthen the capacity of tourism officials and regulators
on the ECOTOUR 19-29 strategy, which promotes tourism within the ECOWAS
region.
Key discussions at the forum focus on harmonizing tourism standards, policies,
and regulations across West Africa. Sheikh Tejan Nyang, Head of the Institute
of Travel and Tourism of The Gambia (ITTOG), stressed the importance of
hotel classification and policy awareness among member states.
Dr. Tony Luka Elumelu, ECOWAS Director for the Private Sector, highlighted
tourism’s role in regional integration and the need for improved connectivity.
He also praised The Gambia for implementing the ECOWAS National Biometric
ID Card, which enhances mobility.
The forum is expected to enhance compliance with ECOWAS tourism policies,
improve cooperation among member states, and boost the region’s tourism
sector for sustainable growth.