IPNEWS: A growing wave of negative narratives and social media posts has emerged against ArcelorMittal Liberia’s (AML) new investment proposal by some paid agents seeking to undermine gains made by both the government of Liberia and ArcelorMittal, which promises a $200 million signature bonus to the delight of the Government of Liberia which solidifies hundreds of new jobs and business opportunities.
According to reports, a network linked to a rival iron ore interest group — HPX or Avonhole Liberia — has allegedly launched a coordinated media and propaganda campaign aimed at discrediting AML’s operations and its proposed agreement with the Liberian government.
Over the past several weeks, selected newspapers and social media accounts have circulated stories portraying AML’s deal as unfavorable to Liberia contrary to the national jubilation following the signing of the ArcelorMittal’s extension deal.. Many of these narratives have contained deliberate distortions and selective information designed to sway public opinion and influence policymakers.
Analysts say some of these media pieces have encouraged certain government officials to adopt hardline positions against the AML investment despite the deal’s potential outlook to deliver major economic benefits including accelerating employment growth, infrastructure improvement, and community development initiatives.
It may be recall that during AML’s previous 2021 agreement negotiations, a similar wave of online propaganda flooded Facebook and other platforms. A website and Facebook page known as “The Liberian Economy”—reportedly operated by interests sympathetic to a competing mining firm, HPX—became central to that campaign.
The platform published a series of anti-AML commentaries and graphics suggesting that Liberia’s economy would be “captured” under the company’s proposed terms.
After the House of Representatives withheld approval of the agreement in late 2021, “The Liberian Economy” platform vanished from the internet almost immediately, leaving behind questions about its funding sources and motives.
Analysts warn that such coordinated campaigns pose a serious threat to Liberia’s investment climate and public trust. When media and social platforms are weaponized to distort facts or manipulate public sentiment, it undermines informed policymaking and investor confidence.
Experts argue that Liberia’s democratic institutions rely on an independent, credible media environment—one where policy debates are based on facts, transparency, and constructive engagement rather than misinformation.
Unchecked propaganda, they warn, can derail projects that promise jobs, revenues, and infrastructure, leaving the country’s development agenda vulnerable to external manipulation.
Call for Responsible Information Ecosystem
Civil society organizations, media leaders, and government regulators are being urged to promote responsible reporting, fact-checking, and data-driven debate around major concession agreements.
Promoting transparency and balanced information, they say, is key to ensuring that Liberians benefit fully from genuine investments while protecting the country from information warfare disguised as public advocacy.
