Is Liberia the only African Country in the Migration Council?

Claim: "Liberia is the only African country in the IMO Council seat"

Verdict: False; Liberia is among the 40-member Council, but it is not the only African country.

Full Text: Robert Kpadeh, Liberia’s permanent representative to the International Migration Organization, appeared at the Ministry of Information Press briefing and claimed that Liberia is the only African country among member states at the International Migration Organization.

His claim can be found at thirty-five minutes, eleven seconds to thirty-five minutes, thirty-two seconds of this live video.

Kpadeh: “Imagine 10 senior council members, America, France, China, Japan, those powerful countries with huge maritime interests, and somewhere there is Liberia. The only African country at that council seat. In council, having conversation with big powers influencing decisions…."

He was appointed in February 2024 as Liberia's permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

The Council is the executive organ of the IMO, and is responsible, under the Assembly, for supervising the work of the Organization. Between sessions of the Assembly, the Council performs all the functions of the Assembly, except that of making recommendations to Governments on maritime safety and pollution prevention.

Verification: Kpadeh was contacted on the claim, and he refuted that he didn’t say what he was asked about.

“I didn't say that. The recording is there. Go back and listen. If you are a journalist, lear n to listen. I said Liberia is the only African country in Category A of the IMO Council.”

He furthered, "You have Egypt, Kenya, and Morocco that are in Category C ..far below Liberia. Liberia remains the only African country at Category A of IMO Council...amongst the global power."

We listened as instructed by Kpadeh; this is what he said: “Imagine 10 senior council members, America, France, China, Japan, those powerful countries with huge maritime interests, and somewhere there is Liberia. The only African country at that council seat. In council, having conversation with big powers influencing decisions…."

We shared the exact quote and timing with him but he didn't respond since Friday April 30.

The IMO website showed that Liberia is among the category A countries, and it is the only African state in said category.

There are 10 States with the largest interest in providing international shipping services: China, Greece, Italy, Japan, Liberia, Norway, Panama, the Republic of Korea, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America.

Conclusion: The claim that Liberia is the only African country among the IMO, as stated by Kpadeh, is misleading. Kenya, Morocco, and Egypt are also members of the organization. However, it is a fact that Liberia is the only African Country in category A.

But we take note that Kpadeh, during the press conference, didn’t say which category Liberia was in. He mentioned Liberia as the only African state a member of the IMO.