by Nyantee S. Togba<\/p>\n
MONROVIA \u2014 The Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC), in collaboration with the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS), has launched a biometric registration exercise aimed at issuing resident permits to 269 former Ivorian refugees who have permanently settled in Liberia.<\/p>\n
The initiative is part of the government\u2019s implementation of Executive Order 144, signed by President Joseph N. Boakai, which seeks to regularize the legal status of former Ivorian refugees integrated into Liberian communities following years of displacement.<\/p>\n
The registration process began in Monrovia and will extend to Montserrado, Nimba, Grand Gedeh and Maryland counties, where most of the targeted population currently resides.<\/p>\n
During the official launch ceremony, Joseph Boye Cooper, deputy executive director for operations at the LRRRC, and Elijah F. Rufus, commissioner general of the LIS, reaffirmed the government\u2019s commitment to refugee protection and long-term integration.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is a significant step forward in ensuring that these individuals are fully integrated and can enjoy the rights and privileges of legal residents,\u201d Cooper said. \u201cWe are not just issuing permits \u2014 we are promoting dignity and belonging.\u201d<\/p>\n
The LIS has already begun enrolling former refugees, capturing biometric data that will be used to produce official resident permits. According to the LRRRC, these permits will grant beneficiaries access to essential public services, including education, healthcare and housing.<\/p>\n
As part of the broader integration effort, the LRRRC will also coordinate with the National Identification Registry to ensure that all former Ivorian refugees are included in Liberia\u2019s national identification system.<\/p>\n