Liberia: – High Power Exploration’s (HPX) recent proposal to provide US$10 million to Liberia for the right to transport iron ore from Guinea’s Samadou Mine through Liberia has raised significant concerns. This proposal comes at a time when the Guinean government is actively constructing its own railway from the mine site to Conakry and has not agreed to allow its iron ore to transit through Liberia’s Nimba County. The Guinean government has been unequivocal in its position regarding the export of its iron ore. With the development of the Trans-Guinean Railway a US$15 billion infrastructure project connecting the Simandou Iron Ore Mines to the new Morébaya Deep-Water Port the necessity of routing iron ore through Liberia is being questioned. This 670-kilometer railway, now 80% complete, is projected to be operational by late 2025, providing Guinea with a direct export route. Analysts overwhelmingly agree that there is no logical or economic reason for Guinea to permit iron ore transit through Liberia once the Trans-Guinean Railway is operational. The Guinean government has issued stern warnings, stating that it has neither granted nor concluded any deal with HPX to transport ore from Guinea into Liberia. This silence, particularly in response to inquiries from Liberia’s Inter-Ministerial Concession Committee (IMCC), can be diplomatically interpreted as a refusal to grant such authorization. Liberia must exercise caution in its dealings with HPX. The proposed US$10 million fee from HPX is significantly lower than the US$200 million per annum offered by ArcelorMittal-Liberia under the new Mineral Development Agreement. Rushing into an agreement with HPX without Guinea’s consent could lead to diplomatic tensions and potential legal ramifications. HPX’s past activities in Liberia have been marred by controversy. Allegations have surfaced that HPX made an illegal payment of US$30 million to the administration of former President George Weah, despite no formal agreement between the company and the Liberian government. More recently, reports indicate that HPX provided US$37 million to certain government officials to facilitate the passage of the National Railway Authority Act, potentially undermining ArcelorMittal’s exclusive rights to Liberia’s railway infrastructure. But let it be made known that AML is opposed to no call for multi-user access to Liberia’s railway infrastructure. The suggestion that AML is resisting multiuser access to Liberia’s rail and port infrastructure is patently false and an embellishment of the truth. Since the submission of its third amendment to the Mineral Development Agreement (MDA) in 2021, AML has consistently championed multiuser access as a cornerstone of Liberia’s development, which was stipulated in Clause 3, Section E of the New Mineral Development Agreement. These troubling developments raise fears of another scandal akin to HPX’s previous alleged illegal payment of $30 million to the administration of former President George Weah, despite no formal agreement between the company and the Liberian government. In 2024, HPX, in collaboration with the Guma Group, announced plans to invest $5 billion in constructing the Liberty Rail Corridor, a new multi-user infrastructure linking Guinea and Liberia. This project was presented as a transformative initiative for regional trade and development. However, HPX’s recent maneuvers to gain access to Liberia’s existing railway and port facilities assets in which ArcelorMittal has invested over US$800 million raise serious questions about the company’s intentions. If HPX is committed to the Liberty Rail Corridor, why is it aggressively pursuing access to Liberia’s existing infrastructure? This contradiction suggests a potential lack of commitment to the $5 billion project and raises concerns about HPX’s strategic objectives in the region. Given HPX’s controversial history and the lack of authorization from the Guinean government, Liberia must exercise extreme caution in its dealings with the company. Entering into agreements without proper due diligence and regional consent could lead to diplomatic conflicts, legal challenges, and further scandals. The Liberian government has a responsibility to prioritize the nation’s interests and ensure that any partnerships are transparent, lawful, and beneficial to its citizens.