MONROVIA, LIBERIA – On March 19, 2025, Martin K. N. Kollie, a prominent civil society activist, launched a critique of Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe, accusing him of enabling the systemic exploitation of his constituents by both foreign companies and corrupt political elites. Kollie’s passionate condemnation painted Snowe as a key figure in the continued suffering and deprivation of the people of Bomi, a county rich in natural resources but plagued by underdevelopment.
Kollie’s social media post was sharp and direct, targeting both Snowe and the larger political system that, in his view, perpetuates the cycle of exploitation. He called out the lack of action from Bomi’s leadership in addressing the exploitation of Liberia’s resources, particularly by foreign concession companies. According to Kollie, these companies are making billions of U.S. dollars each year through the extraction of Liberia’s mineral wealth, yet local communities remain mired in poverty.
“Why is Bomi sleeping to allow themselves to be robbed and exploited like this? You are being robbed in real time,” Kollie wrote, urging the people of Bomi to recognize the injustice unfolding around them. “How long will you allow this abuse to continue?” His words reflected his frustration with a political system he believes has sold out the interests of ordinary citizens in favor of foreign interests and corrupt local officials.
Kollie didn’t mince words when addressing Snowe, accusing him of turning a blind eye to the abuses occurring in his home county while he personally benefited from his political position. He referred to Snowe’s recent trip to Nigeria, where the senator reportedly celebrated the unveiling of a Blue Line City Train project, juxtaposing the senator’s actions with the dire conditions in Bomi.
“While Snowe celebrates abroad, his people at home are left to suffer in poverty,” Kollie said. The activist pointed to the inadequate infrastructure in Bomi, specifically a small, substandard building constructed by Western Cluster, a foreign concession company, which was turned over as a school. Kollie called this “cruelty,” highlighting the stark contrast between the lavish facilities in the companies’ home countries and the meager offerings left for the Liberian people.
Kollie’s criticism extended beyond the inadequacy of the school. He revealed startling figures about Western Cluster’s shipments of iron ore from Bomi, estimating that between 2023 and 2024, the company shipped over a million metric tons of iron ore worth more than $111 million. Yet, according to Kollie, the people of Bomi have seen none of these profits in the form of improved infrastructure, healthcare, or basic services.
“Western Cluster continues to profit off of Bomi’s natural resources, but the people of this county remain in darkness with no safe drinking water, poor roads, and no proper healthcare facilities,” Kollie argued. He questioned the integrity of both the Liberian government and foreign companies operating in the country, accusing them of underreporting their exports to the Liberia Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (LEITI) and the Ministry of Mines.
Kollie’s call for transparency was coupled with a vow to expose further details about Western Cluster and other foreign concession companies, promising to release classified documents and leaks that would shed light on the scale of exploitation happening in Liberia’s mining sector. He argued that this situation would not be allowed to continue indefinitely.
“The days of exploitation must come to an end,” Kollie declared, pressing for action from the government and civil society to demand accountability from both politicians and foreign investors.
His criticism also targeted the political establishment, focusing specifically on Snowe and his ally, Musa Hassan Bility, accusing them of perpetuating a culture of corruption that benefits only a few at the expense of the masses. Kollie denounced what he called the “Snowe-Bility Sameness,” suggesting that these two politicians, among others, exploit the suffering of ordinary Liberians to advance their own political and economic agendas.
“The suffering in Liberia is artificial. It is man-made,” Kollie stated, pointing the finger squarely at Snowe, Bility, and other political elites. “They use stolen money to take advantage of poor people, and then pretend to be moral authorities.”
