Liberia allowed dual citizenship, reversing a long-standing ban that some saw as hypocritical as many elites secretly held US citizenship.
The bill, which was signed by President George Weah on Friday and confirmed by AFP on Sunday, passed the House of Representatives and the Senate on Tuesday.
It amends the West African nation's nationality law to allow Liberians to remain citizens after acquiring a second nationality.
Liberia – a country founded by Americans – has a significant diaspora living in the United States. Between 2008 and 2012, an estimated 100,000 people born in Liberia lived in America, according to U.S. Census data.
However, dual citizens will not be allowed to serve as Liberia's president, finance minister or central bank governor, and hold senior national security or law enforcement positions.
"If such a person wishes to run (for elections), he must renounce his citizenship of the other country at least one year before applying to the National Electoral Commission," the bill reads.
Last year, a Supreme Court ruling eased the country's strict ban on dual citizenship dating back to 1973. The ban previously automatically stripped holders of other passports of their citizenship.
The court's decision did not overturn the ban on dual citizenship, but rather meant that the court must decide whether or not someone can be stripped of their Liberian citizenship.
The ban — which blocked Liberians who had naturalized in the US or Europe from holding a Liberian passport — was long seen in some quarters as hypocritical because elite Liberians secretly held US citizenship and were accused of transferring money abroad.
Hundreds of thousands of other Liberians fleeing war and poverty are also believed to live overseas.
Weah previously asked Liberians to lift the ban in a referendum in December 2020, arguing that the nationality restrictions - which include a ban on foreign property ownership - are unfair.
Some hoped the move would lead to investment in the impoverished nation of 4.8 million people.
However, the proposed change failed. A majority of 51.5 percent of voters voted to lift the ban, but a two-thirds majority was needed.
Liberia was founded by former slaves from the US. It declared independence in 1847, which was formally recognized by the US in 1862.
According to the Naturalization Act, only blacks can be Liberian citizens.
Under the new legislation, any black person can now acquire Liberian citizenship through marriage, adoption, or if born in the country or to Liberian parents.
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