MONROVIA – In a strongly worded press release today, Thursday, June 6, 12024, the Congress for Democratic Change Council of Patriots (CDC-COP) has condemned the administration of President Joseph N. Boakai for its alleged abandonment of Liberian foreign mission diplomats. The CDC-COP, through its National Executive Council, criticized the administration’s refusal to pay six months’ worth of salaries and benefits to these diplomats, describing it as a human rights violation.
The CDC-COP accused President Boakai and Madam Sara B. Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs, of deliberately neglecting well-qualified and experienced Liberian diplomats stationed around the world. This neglect, the CDC-COP claims, is a politically motivated act of retribution aimed at suppressing these diplomats.
“The government’s decision not to pay salaries and benefits to our diplomats abroad is a wicked and inhumane act,” the press release stated. “Our intelligence bureau reports that over 50 diplomats are stranded, with office activities grinding to a halt due to lack of supplies, food, and transportation. Many diplomats are on the verge of being evicted from their residences due to unpaid rent.”
The CDC-COP called on international partners to recognize what it described as human rights violations by the Boakai administration. The organization urged these partners to intervene to prevent further destitution and neglect of Liberian diplomats.
The National Executive Council expressed particular disappointment in Madam Nyanti, accusing her of failing to address the dire situation faced by the diplomats under her supervision. “Madam Nyanti, if any of these diplomats lose their lives due to abandonment and starvation, their blood will be on your hands,” the CDC-COP warned. “You must be held accountable.”
The press release also criticized President Boakai, referring to him as an octogenarian who has outlived his usefulness. It suggested that Madam Nyanti, who purportedly has political ambitions, is being used as a political pawn by the president. The CDC-COP threatened to report her to international bodies, including the United Nations, for her alleged role in the human rights violations.
In its concluding remarks, the CDC-COP urged the Boakai administration to immediately pay the diplomats their full salaries and benefits. “These diplomats are suffering and should not be treated as third-class citizens,” the release stated. “They were trained with taxpayers’ money and deserve to serve their country without political interference.”
The CDC-COP reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for victims of what it termed as Boakai’s misrule and bad leadership. It called for an end to the political witch-hunt and for the fair treatment of all Liberian diplomats serving abroad.
