By Lincoln G. Peters
CONGO TOWN, Monrovia, October 16, 2026 – The United States Department of State has upgraded Liberia from the Tier 2 Watch List to Tier 2 in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report, recognizing the government’s increased efforts to combat human trafficking, including prosecutions, convictions, and improved enforcement measures.
The upgrade marks progress in Liberia’s fight against human trafficking, although the country has yet to fully meet the minimum standards established under the U.S. Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA).
Announcing the development at a press conference on Thursday, October 15, Labor Minister Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah welcomed the decision but called for increased government funding to sustain the country’s anti-trafficking efforts.
According to Kruah, Liberia’s previous placement on the Tier 2 Watch List reflected concerns about inadequate enforcement and limited progress in meeting international anti-trafficking standards.
He said the government intensified its efforts during the latest reporting period, prosecuting several trafficking cases and securing three convictions.
The Labor Minister disclosed that one of the cases involved 57 trafficking victims who testified in court against individuals accused of trafficking them.
He explained that international partners monitored some of the proceedings, which he said demonstrated the government’s commitment to prosecuting traffickers and protecting victims.
“All of these were seen and observed by the international community as serious efforts that government is making,” Kruah stated.
He expressed satisfaction over Liberia’s removal from the watch list and hoped the country would eventually advance to Tier 1, the highest classification under the U.S. anti-trafficking assessment system.
“We are glad that Liberia is off the list. We are now Tier 2. We hope that during the course of this year, we will move from Tier 2 to Tier 1,” he said.
Under the U.S. trafficking classification system, Tier 2 countries do not fully meet the minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking but are making significant efforts toward compliance.
The Tier 2 Watch List includes countries making significant efforts but facing additional concerns, including substantial or increasing numbers of trafficking victims or insufficient evidence of progress.
Kruah further disclosed that the Ministry of Labor has launched a National Action Plan against human trafficking, intended to strengthen prevention, prosecution, victim protection, and coordination among relevant government institutions.
Despite the upgrade, the minister acknowledged that inadequate funding remains a major challenge to Liberia’s anti-trafficking efforts.
He said the government needs additional resources to provide care for trafficking survivors, facilitate their repatriation, strengthen investigations, and improve enforcement at border points.
According to him, some foreign trafficking victims have already been repatriated, but others remain in Liberia because of financial constraints.
“We still have some people here that need to be repatriated. We are looking for money to do so,” Kruah disclosed.
He emphasized that combating human trafficking requires adequate budgetary support, warning that government commitments alone cannot effectively address the problem.
The Labor Minister said his ministry has raised concerns about previous low budgetary allocations for anti-trafficking programs and is seeking increased funding in the upcoming national budget.
He expressed hope that the government would make meaningful adjustments to strengthen the ministry’s capacity to implement its anti-trafficking programs.
Kruah also announced plans to train additional labor inspectors in trafficking identification and investigation techniques and deploy personnel at border points to strengthen efforts against cross-border trafficking.
He thanked President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning for supporting the government’s anti-trafficking initiatives.
The minister maintained that sustained financial support, stronger enforcement, and improved victim protection would be critical to consolidating Liberia’s progress and advancing toward full compliance with international anti-trafficking standards.
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