Liberia, Oct. 28 -- A coalition of civil society groups says signing long-term contracts under Liberia's 2000 mining law would lock in the weak oversight, lost revenue and pollution that have marked the sector for decades.

MONROVIA, Liberia - A coalition of civil society organizations in Liberia has called on the government to stop signing and ratifying new long-term mining contracts until the West African nation replaces its 26-year-old mining law.

The CSO Consortium on Minerals, Mining, and Inclusive Sustainable Development made the appeal on Monday, October 26, at a press conference in the capital. It urged President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the national legislature to impose a moratorium on new Mineral Development Agreements (MDAs) -...