The United States announced Monday that it has imposed corruption sanctions on senior Liberian officials, including a close associate of President George Weah.
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The sanctions specifically target Nathaniel McGill, Secretary of State for Presidential Affairs and Secretary-General to President Weah. He is accused of “abusing his position to undermine the integrity and independence of Liberia’s democratic institutions … for personal gain,” according to a statement by State Department spokesman Ned Price.
A separate Treasury Department statement said he “received bribes” as part of government contracts.
Two other senior officials will also be sanctioned: Sayma Syrenius Cephus, Liberia’s Attorney General, and Bill Twehway, who heads the National Ports Authority.
These sanctions mainly consist of freezing their assets in the United States.
Liberia is the oldest republic in sub-Saharan Africa, founded in the 19th century at the instigation of the United States for freed black slaves.