The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has suspended for eight months all activities related to the Poro and Sande societies.
The Government of Liberia through the Ministry of Internal Affairs, has suspended for eight months all activities related to the Poro and Sande societies.
Internal Affairs Minister, Francis Nyamulin, announced that the suspension begins from April 30, 2025, to January 2026.The decision follows a consensus reached by the National Council and Chiefs, who approved the temporary halt of the practice.
Minister Nyamulin explained that the suspension is in response to numerous complaints from chiefs and traditional leaders across Liberia regarding the conduct of these societies, particularly concerning the initiation of children and its impact on education.
“Many chiefs and traditional leaders have raised concerns about the current state of these societies, especially the initiation of children under questionable circumstances. “This practice is interfering with our educational system, as children are taken away from school to undergo initiation rites during the academic year,” Nyamulin said.
Nyamulin emphasized that the suspension would allow time for the Council of Chiefs and other traditional leaders to develop regulations governing these practices, which he said have proliferated without proper oversight.
He observed that underage children have been initiated for commercial purposes, describing such action as “forceful initiation.”
The minister said by the end of the suspension, regulations would be in place to ensure that traditional practices are conducted responsibly, without disrupting the education of children.
