CAPITOL HILL, MONROVIA – Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr. of Nimba County has explained his decision to abstain from voting on the Third Amendment to the ArcelorMittal Liberia Mineral Development Agreement, grounding his position in concerns over compliance failures, accountability, and a persistent trust deficit between the company and affected communities.
In a statement issued on January 29, 2026, Senator Twayen made clear that his abstention was not an act of hostility toward foreign investment or economic growth but a calculated legislative stance shaped by his oversight responsibilities over concession compliance during the past two years.
“My decision to vote ‘abstain’ was not motivated by malice, hostility to investment, or opposition to economic growth,” Twayen stated. “It was guided by history, evidence, and my responsibility as the lead senator on concession compliance.”
The senator pointed to ArcelorMittal Liberia’s documented history of noncompliance with key provisions of the existing agreement, particularly those related to social obligations owed to communities impacted by mining operations.
According to Twayen, those compliance gaps remain unresolved and cannot be dismissed simply because new assurances have been offered under the amended agreement.
He described abstention as a deliberate signal of caution intended to reinforce the Legislature’s seriousness about enforcement, implementation, and accountability, rather than a rejection of reform efforts surrounding the concession.
Following passage of the amendment by the House of Representatives, Senator Twayen said sustained advocacy from his office and supportive colleagues resulted in concrete improvements to the proposed agreement.
He disclosed that negotiations with the Inter-Ministerial Concessions Committee and ArcelorMittal led to the correction of several critical omissions that initially weakened the amendment.
Among the outcomes secured, Twayen highlighted explicit social benefit commitments, including the pavement of the Sehyikinpa to Yekepa road, upgrades to roads within the concession area, and the construction and maintenance of bridges.
He further noted commitments for enhanced investment in clinics and schools serving communities directly affected by ArcelorMittal’s mining operations in Nimba County.
“Our advocacy produced tangible outcomes in the interest of the Liberian people, especially the people of Nimba County,” Twayen said, stressing that these gains resulted from sustained scrutiny rather than voluntary concessions.
On the financial side, Senator Twayen said his office pushed for renegotiation of the agreement’s economic terms, resulting in substantial improvements for the Liberian state.
These include a two hundred million United States dollar signature fee, an increase in annual mining license fees from fifty thousand United States dollars to five hundred thousand United States dollars, and an increase in annual social development contributions from three million to five million United States dollars.
“These are not symbolic gains; they are material improvements secured through persistence, scrutiny, and policy advocacy,” Twayen emphasized.
He also revealed that the revised framework now includes a proper consolidation and restatement of the existing MDA and the Third Amendment, addressing long-standing structural weaknesses.
According to Twayen, provisions that would have allowed automatic extension of the concession after twenty-five years were removed and replaced with language requiring legislative ratification for any renewal.
He said this change restores the constitutional authority of the Legislature and strengthens protection of the state’s long-term interests.
The senator further disclosed that both the IMCC and ArcelorMittal formally acknowledged clerical and substantive errors in the amendment, including the omission of Nimba County from social obligation provisions.
Twayen said his office demanded and received written commitments from both the Executive and ArcelorMittal confirming that these errors would be corrected and the obligations implemented, even as he maintained reservations.
Despite these revisions and assurances, Senator Twayen said he could not vote in favor of the amendment because commitments on paper do not erase years of unmet obligations.
“Trust must be rebuilt through performance, not assurances,” he stated, underscoring the basis for his abstention.
He emphasized that ratification of the amendment marks the beginning, not the end, of legislative oversight over concession compliance.
Twayen assured the people of Nimba County and Liberia that his focus moving forward will be on ensuring that the acknowledged commitments are fully, timely, and verifiably implemented.
He noted that while vigilance has already produced results, only sustained oversight will determine whether those commitments translate into real benefits for affected communities.
The senator expressed appreciation to the Senate leadership, fellow lawmakers, and the IMCC for engaging with his concerns while maintaining that cooperation does not replace accountability.
As ArcelorMittal Liberia enters a new phase under the amended agreement, Senator Twayen reaffirmed his resolve to stand firm on compliance and national interest.
“I will continue to stand for compliance, accountability, and the protection of both county and country interests,” he declared.
