US imposes sanctions on three Liberian officials

The US has imposed sanctions on three Liberian government officials under the Magnitsky Act, including President George Weah's chief of staff. The US authorities believe that officials included in the sanctions list are involved in corruption schemes.

Nathaniel McGill, the chief of staff of the incumbent President George Taulon Manne Oppong Usman Weah, the country's chief prosecutor Saima Sirenius Cefus, and the managing DIRECTOR of the country's port authority, Bill Tweway, were sanctioned.

For the first time, economic sanctions against Liberia were introduced in July 2004 by former US President George W. Bush in connection with the military conflict in the country and the activities of former Liberian President Charles Taylor.

Almost 250,000 people died in the civil war of 1989-2003.

In 2015, Barack Obama, as President of the United States, lifted sanctions on Liberia by signing an executive order. Obama then celebrated the country's progress and commitment to democracy since the end of the civil war.