MONROVIA – Nearly two months after National Elections Commission (NEC) magistrate, Solomon G. Jaryenneh, disappeared following official assignments in southeastern Liberia, his family is demanding urgent government intervention, warning that continued silence from authorities is deepening fears, frustration, and growing public concern over citizen safety nationwide.
The family of the missing magistrate assigned in Sinoe County, has publicly appealed to the Liberian Government to intensify efforts to locate him after he reportedly went missing on March 27 following NEC-related activities in Maryland and Nimba counties.
In a statement issued Saturday in Monrovia and signed by Rev. Richard W. Noah on behalf of the family, relatives described the disappearance as both painful and alarming, saying, weeks of uncertainty have left them emotionally exhausted and desperate for answers.
According to the family, Jaryenneh attended NEC-organized workshops in Maryland and Nimba before contact with him was abruptly lost.
Since then, relatives say, they have searched communities, contacted acquaintances, and revisited locations where he was reportedly last seen, but no meaningful breakthrough has emerged.
“What troubles us most is the silence,” a family member told reporters shortly after the release was circulated. “Every day without information increases our fear. We are not asking for miracles. We are asking the government to treat this matter seriously and help bring our brother home.”
The family said, the matter was reported to the National Elections Commission shortly after Jaryenneh’s disappearance, but they claim there has been little public communication regarding any steps taken.
However, a senior elections worker speaking anonymously because he was not authorized to comment publicly admitted that concern within the institution is growing.
“Solomon is a respected worker and a calm professional,” the NEC staffer said. “People are worried because this is not normal. We hope the security agencies can move quickly and transparently.”
The disappearance has triggered broader public discussion about security and institutional accountability, especially involving government employees traveling for official duties across counties.
In Sinoe County, several residents have expressed sympathy for the family while questioning whether enough urgency is being applied to the case.
“If a government worker can disappear after official work and nobody can explain what happened, then ordinary people will naturally feel unsafe,” said David Palay, resident of Greenville. “The authorities need to show the public they are taking this seriously.”
Cecelia Doe, resident of New New Kru Town, Monrovia, also voiced frustration over what she described as slow reactions in a missing-person investigations.
“Families suffer quietly while investigations drag,” she said. “Imagine what his children or relatives are going through every day not knowing whether he is alive.”
In the statement, family members called on the Liberia National Police, the Ministry of Justice, and other national security institutions to launch what they described as a coordinated and aggressive search effort across Maryland and Nimba counties.
The family further requested regular public updates on the investigation to assure citizens that active efforts are underway.
A security expert who preferred not to be named in print added that “prolonged silence in sensitive disappearance cases can fuel speculation, mistrust, and fear among citizens, particularly when the missing person is connected to a public institution.”
A justice ministry source who declined to speak on the record acknowledged awareness of the matter and said, discussions had been ongoing among security actors. The official did not provide details about any active investigation but said, authorities “understand the seriousness of the concern being raised by the family and the public.”
When NEC, Communication Director, Titus Tokpah was contacted on the latest development from the family, he referred to a press release on NEC Website on the matter.
According to the release from NEC, it formally requested a police investigation into the mysterious disappearance of one of its senior electoral officers, raising fresh concerns over staff safety and accountability within public institutions as the whereabouts of Sinoe County Elections Magistrate, Solomon Jaryenneh remain unknown for months.
It noted that it officially informed the Liberia National Police (LNP), through Inspector General, Gregory O. W. Coleman, about the reported disappearance of magistrate Jaryenneh and requested immediate investigation and security intervention into the troubling matter.
The action followed a formal communication from the family dated April 23, 2026, from Mrs. Hawa Jaryenneh, wife of the missing elections magistrate, expressing grave concern over her husband’s sudden disappearance and prolonged silence.
In her communication to the Commission, Mrs. Jaryenneh disclosed that her husband had earlier participated in two NEC-organized electoral workshops held in Harper, Maryland County, and Ganta, Nimba County, before later informing family members of plans to travel within the Maryland County corridor near the Liberia–Côte d’Ivoire border.
The purpose of the trip, according to the family, was reportedly linked to traditional medical treatment associated with undisclosed health concerns.
However, the situation took an alarming turn after all communication with Mr. Jaryenneh abruptly ceased.
The family reported that every attempt to contact him since April 2, 2026, has proven unsuccessful, while his exact location and condition remain completely unknown.
NEC said, the matter is being treated with “utmost seriousness and sensitivity,” especially considering Mr. Jaryenneh’s senior role within the country’s electoral administration framework.
As part of its immediate response, the commission confirmed that it has formally documented the family’s complaint and transmitted the matter to the Liberia National Police for appropriate investigation and possible intervention.
The NEC also disclosed that it has maintained active communication with the family in readiness to provide additional institutional assistance as the situation develops.
“The Commission remains committed to cooperating fully with national security authorities as investigations proceed,” the NEC stated.
The disappearance of a senior elections magistrate has already triggered public concern, particularly given Liberia’s fragile security environment and the strategic importance of electoral officials in the country’s democratic governance process.
While authorities have yet to publicly indicate foul play, the prolonged disappearance has intensified anxiety among relatives, colleagues and members of the public.
The NEC has urged citizens to assist security authorities with any credible information that could help locate the missing magistrate.
The commission further reaffirmed its commitment to staff welfare, institutional transparency and collaboration with national security institutions in matters affecting public confidence and national concern.
As investigations continue, the disappearance of Jaryenneh adds another troubling dimension to growing concerns surrounding public sector safety and the operational vulnerabilities facing key national institutions across Liberia.
