Liberia

Compliance/Financial Considerations

If you intend to do any of the following in Liberia, please contact Risk Services at risk@berkeley.edu or 642-5141:

  • Hire a local to work for you as an employee
  • Purchase or lease office or research space
  • Purchase or lease an automobile
  • Establish a long-term (over 90 days) or ongoing project
  • Conduct a clinical trial 

U.S. GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE CONSIDERATIONS 

Foreign activities may trigger many U.S. laws, including:

  • Import Controls
  • Export Controls
  • Tax Reporting
  • Foreign Bank Account Reporting
  • Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions
  • Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  • Anti-Boycott Laws 

Import Controls. UC employees must adhere to U.S. import requirements, and may need to enlist the services of a customs broker, especially for shipments arriving by sea and subject to the Importer Security Filing 71730, also known as ISF 10+2. 

Export Controls. Export controls may apply to advanced software and technology, research data, and other sensitive assets. UC’s Export Compliance FAQ contains useful information and can be found here.  Go here for the University of California plan for compliance with federal export controls. If you plan on taking or sending potentially export-controlled materials to Liberia, consult the campus Research Administration Compliance Office at 642-0120. 

Tax Reporting. The University and its employees may be taxed in foreign countries. The United States does not have a tax treaty with Liberia. For more information about double taxation issues, contact the Controller’s Office at:

Foreign Bank Account Reporting. The U.S. Treasury Department requires U.S. citizens with a financial interest in or signatory authority over a financial account in a foreign country, where accounts exceed $10,000 at any point during a calendar year, to report such accounts on a Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FinCen Report 114). Those needing to complete the form should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803 for assistance. An IRS 1040 Schedule B form (Part III–Foreign Accounts and Trusts) must be filed by the signatory for any foreign bank account, regardless of the account balance. 

Country Embargoes and Targeted Sanctions. In general, collaborations between University personnel and scholars at foreign institutions or organizations do not require export licenses unless they involve export-controlled or -restricted research or involve scholars in sanctioned countries. Before engaging in an international collaboration, the University needs to determine whether export licenses are required and to verify that the foreign collaborator is not blocked or sanctioned. The Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is responsible for enforcing all U.S. embargoes and sanctions. Depending on each country’s embargo or sanction program, activities may be prohibited without specific authorization or license. UC’s International Collaborations webpage contains additional information on this topic.   

The Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) is intended to stop bribery. It prohibits offering to pay, paying, promising to pay, or authorizing the payment of money or anything of value to a foreign official. The term “foreign official” generally includes any employee or contractor of a foreign government, and may include individuals employed by foreign universities. It is also unlawful to make a payment to a third party knowing that all or part of the payment will go to a foreign official. For more information, review the federal government’s Resource Guide to the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. If you need further clarification, contact the UC Berkeley Office of Legal Affairs at 642-7122. Transparency International’s 2018 survey of perceived public sector corruption rated Liberia at 32 out of 100 (120th out of 180 countries reviewed, i.e.  corrupt).

Anti-Boycott Laws.  The U.S. Department of Commerce is responsible for oversight of laws prohibiting individuals and entities from participating in boycotts not approved or sanctioned by the U.S. government. The Export Administration Act requires that requests to participate in such boycotts or to conduct activities in any of the boycotting countries be formally reported to the Department of Commerce and/or IRS.

For other compliance-related issues, refer to UC’s International Compliance webpage.   

ADDITIONAL CONSIDERATIONS FOR DOING BUSINESS INTERNATIONALLY

Foreign Bank Accounts. Employees wishing to open a foreign bank account should contact the Controller’s Office at cashiers@berkeley.edu or 643-9803. Requests to open accounts must be made through the Office of the President’s Banking and Treasury Services Group by the Chancellor or the Chancellor’s designee. 

Real Estate Agreements. Only employees with delegated authority to sign contracts on behalf of The Regents may enter into agreements, leases, or other contracts.  Foreign affiliates or operations must submit to the Real Estate Services Office property management agreements, personal property leases, or contracts with a term longer than one year or in an amount greater than $25,000 per year. The campus then seeks approval from the University president or designee. For more information, consult the Guidelines for the Establishment and Operation of Foreign Affiliate Organizations and Foreign Operations

Articles

The US State Department's page on LIBERIA may be found HERE.

Personal Safety

AS OF NOVEMBER 11, AUTHORITIES IN LIBERIA ARE MAINTIANING THE NATIONAL HEALTH EMERGENCY MEASURES, WHICH REPLACED THE COUNTRY'S STATE OF EMERGENCY, AS PART OF CONTINUED EFFORTS TO STEM THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS DISEASE (COVID-19).  ALL LAND BORDERS REMAIN CLOSED. ALL ARRIVING PASSSENGERS HAVE BEEN ADVISED TO TRAVEL WITH A NEGATIVE COVID-19 PCR TEST TAKEN UP TO 72 HOURS BEFORE ARRIVAL IN LIBERIA. TRAVELERS WITH A NEGATIVE TEST WILL BE ALLOWED ONWARD TRAVEL, WITH TRAVELER TRACING IN PLACE. PASSENGERS WITHOUT A TEST FROM POINT OF DEPARTURE WILL FACE TESTS AT ROBERTS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (ROB). TRAVELERS WHO TEST POSITIVE WILL BE QUARANTINED AT A GOVERNMENT FACILITY. SYMPTOM TRACING WILL BE CONDUCTED VIA A SMARTPHONE APP. TRAVELERS DEPARTING LIBERIA MUST SHOW EVIDENCE OF A NEGATIVE PCR TEST RESULT RECEIVED WITHIN 72 HOURS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE. UNDER THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH GUIDELINES, ALL PERSONS MUST ABIDE BY PUBLIC HEALTH DIRECTIVES, INCLUDING THE WEARING OF FACEMASKS IN ALL PUBLIC SPACES. SOCIAL DISTANCING OF APPROXIMATELY 1 METER (3 FEE) MUST ALSO BE FOLLOWED.

Note: this page contains basic risk information. For more details, please contact the Risk Services Office at risk@berkeley.edu.

If you are traveling to Liberia on University-related business, please sign up for the University’s travel insurance program by going here. For more information on the travel insurance program, please go here.

Because everyone’s health is unique, we suggest seeking the advice of a medical professional before traveling internationally. Members of the campus community interested in protecting their health while abroad may schedule an appointment with the University Health Services International Travel.

The threat of civil unrest in Liberia is moderate.  Protests occasionally occur in Liberia and sometimes devolve into violence. Most demonstrations are related to labor, educational or social issues, economic conditions, or political developments, such as election campaigns, impeachments, or coups. Protests are most common around the university campus in Monrovia, areas near government offices, political party headquarters, Buchanan, Gbargna, and Tubmanburg, and occasionally cause significant transportation delays.

Crime generally poses a high threat in Liberia. Criminal activity is prevalent in urban and rural locations, particularly on Monrovia's Broad, Carey, and Gurley streets, and within areas of greater Monrovia known as Red Light, Waterside, Congo Town, and ELWA Junction, and all market areas. 

Nonviolent crime poses a high threat to foreign nationals, expatriates, and local staff and is widespread in Monrovia, particularly in the Mamba Point and Sinkor areas. Thieves typically target purses, bags, wallets, smartphones, and other electronic devices. These opportunistic crimes can occur anywhere, but especially at major tourist attractions, on buses, in taxis or cars, in restaurants or bars, and outside of ATMs/banks. Criminals typically target foreign nationals due to their perceived wealth.

Crimes against foreign nationals, expatriates, and local staff are more likely to escalate late at night or if the victim attempts to resist. Criminals act alone and in groups.

Scams pose a high threat to foreign nationals in Liberia. Individuals and organized crime groups typically perpetrate this crime, which may include advance fee scams, fake cashier checks for urgent shipment of large quantities of goods, and unsolicited business proposals.

Overall, the threat of violent crime in Liberia is high; criminals sometimes target foreign nationals. Violent crime, including armed robbery, burglary, mugging, poses the greatest threat in Monrovia; this may be due to the concentration of low-income communities. Criminals in Liberia may resort to force if a victim resists; do not resist. 

Gender-based violence and/or discrimination poses a high threat to foreign nationals, expatriates, and local staff in Liberia. There are legal restrictions against same-sex relations; same-sex couples that express affection may face harassment from locals. Anti-LGBT violence may occur in Liberia.

Legal/Political

Criminal Penalties: You are subject to local laws. If you violate local laws, even unknowingly, you may be expelled, arrested, or imprisoned. Penalties for possessing, using, or trafficking in illegal drugs in Liberia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines. Furthermore, some crimes are also prosecutable in the U.S., regardless of local law. 

Arrest Notification: If you are arrested or detained, ask police or prison officials to notify the U.S. Embassy immediately. See our webpage for further information.

Photographs: Photographing military installations, air and sea ports, and important government buildings is prohibited. You should not take photographs of sites or activities that may be considered sensitive, as police may confiscate the camera.

Infrastructure: Lodging, fuel, transportation, utilities, and telephone services are not consistently available, especially outside of Monrovia. Hotel rooms can be difficult to find without an advance reservation. There is no working landline telephone system in Liberia. You should rent or purchase a local cellular phone. Commercial air courier service is available.

LGBTI Travelers: Consensual same-sex sexual relations are criminalized in Liberia. Voluntary sodomy is a first-degree misdemeanor with penalties ranging up to one year in prison.