MONROVIA, Liberia — The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has dismissed widespread social media claims alleging that the Government of Liberia owes salaries and benefits to members of its Foreign Service, clarifying that payments to diplomatic missions abroad are generally processed on a regular basis.
In a statement issued Wednesday, February 18, the Ministry acknowledged that minor administrative challenges affected a limited number of payments between October and December 2025 but emphasized that the issues were isolated and have since been addressed.
Liberia currently maintains 30 diplomatic missions overseas, where salary and benefit disbursements are processed through established government channels. According to the Ministry, recent concerns stemmed primarily from payment disruptions linked to technical banking adjustments rather than any systemic failure to meet obligations.
Joint Review with Finance Ministry
In response to the reported delays, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning convened a joint working session on February 17, 2026, at the Foreign Ministry to investigate the matter and determine the source of the bottleneck.
The review revealed that Liberia’s Mission in Brussels was particularly affected after four salary payments processed in October 2025 were returned to the Central Bank of Liberia on three separate occasions.
Further investigation established that the returned payments were due to transmission misalignments associated with newly implemented SWIFT banking requirements. The updated international banking compliance protocols reportedly caused technical rejections of certain transactions before they could be credited to the mission.
Officials explained that the issue was not related to a lack of available funds but rather to procedural adjustments in cross-border payment systems.
Corrective Measures Announced
Following the discovery, both Ministries agreed to revise processing timelines and enhance coordination mechanisms to accommodate discrepancies that may arise between international banking systems and domestic financial procedures.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed appreciation to Finance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and his team for their swift intervention and collaboration.
The statement described the engagement as an example of “real-time inter-ministerial cooperation” that strengthens government efficiency and ensures that administrative challenges are resolved promptly.
The Foreign Ministry also commended Liberia’s Ambassadors and Heads of Mission for their continued professionalism and cooperation during the period of delay, noting their commitment to advancing Liberia’s diplomatic agenda abroad despite temporary disruptions.
Government Reassurance
The Government of Liberia reaffirmed its commitment to the timely payment of salaries and benefits to members of the Liberian Foreign Service, assuring stakeholders that enhancement efforts are ongoing to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
For further inquiries regarding payment processes, the Ministry advised that questions be directed to the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
The clarification comes amid heightened public scrutiny of government financial management and reflects ongoing efforts to strengthen transparency in the administration of Liberia’s diplomatic operations abroad.
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