By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor
The Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Taskforce (AREPT) has advanced Liberia’s anti-corruption drive by engaging directly with the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), marking a significant step toward deepening international cooperation in asset recovery.
On Tuesday, January 27, 2026, AREPT officials met with Madam Kristen Schill, Supervisory Special Agent of the FBI and Transnational Anticorruption Partnership (TAP) Advisor at the U.S. Embassy in Dakar, Senegal. The high-level dialogue focused on enhancing cross-border collaboration in tracing and reclaiming stolen public assets.
The engagement aligns with AREPT’s mandate under Executive Order No. 145, which empowers the Taskforce to partner with international institutions in identifying, recovering, and repatriating assets looted from Liberia.
During the meeting, AREPT Chairman Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin outlined the Taskforce’s mission and achievements to date. He disclosed that AREPT has unsealed three major indictments implicating more than sixty individuals in corruption-related offenses. In addition, forty ongoing investigations are being pursued nationwide.
Cllr. Martin described the FBI engagement as both “strategic and timely,” stressing that it strengthens AREPT’s operational framework and reinforces Liberia’s commitment to accountability and transparency in public service.
Madam Schill expressed strong support for closer collaboration between AREPT, U.S. authorities, and other international anti-corruption institutions. She emphasized that cooperation would center on intelligence sharing, technical assistance, and capacity-building programs designed to sharpen investigative effectiveness.
She further disclosed that U.S. agencies stand ready to assist Liberia in identifying and investigating stolen public assets held abroad, underscoring Washington’s commitment to supporting Liberia’s anti-corruption agenda.
Welcoming the pledge, Cllr. Martin reaffirmed AREPT’s readiness to work closely with U.S. partners to translate cooperation into tangible outcomes. He stressed that recovering stolen public resources—both domestically and internationally—remains a central pillar of the Taskforce’s mandate.
The meeting was attended by the AREPT Chairman, Co-Chair, and two core members of the Taskforce. Its outcome, officials noted, reflects growing international confidence in Liberia’s anti-corruption efforts and highlights the importance of global partnerships in tackling complex financial crimes.
AREPT described the engagement as a milestone in strengthening Liberia’s capacity to pursue stolen assets worldwide. The Taskforce pledged to continue its work with professionalism, integrity, and respect for the rule of law, positioning Liberia as a credible partner in global anti-corruption initiatives.
