MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Former President George Manneh Weah, political leader of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), has issued a scathing condemnation of the current Unity Party (UP) administration led by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai. Weah accused the Boakai-Koung administration of engaging in politically motivated detentions targeting members of the CDC and the wider opposition community, marking a significant escalation in political tensions.
Weah recounted an incident on Monday, July 29, 2024, when heavily armed security personnel allegedly carried out unlawful detentions of several former government officials. Among those detained were four former members of the National Security Council. He stressed that these detentions were executed without any indictments from a grand jury, a move he characterized as a blatant attempt to undermine the rule of law and state security.
Addressing a press conference on Wednesday, July 31, 2024, at the CDC headquarters in Congo Town, Monrovia, Weah expressed his deep displeasure with the administration’s recent actions. He accused the Boakai administration of a series of deliberate acts aimed at destabilizing the opposition and maintaining power through unjust means. He detailed other grievances, including the harassment and removal of civil servants based on party affiliation, and the excessive use of force resulting in civilian deaths.
Weah also pointed to the administration’s failure to prosecute election-related deaths that were caught on camera. He criticized the total disregard for tenure laws, even in the face of Supreme Court rulings. According to Weah, the Unity Party has been involved in broad-day violations of the procurement laws of the country, alongside the denial of benefits to duly commissioned foreign service officials.
A recent incident involving the attempted removal of the Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia, which Weah claimed was illegal and in violation of the institution’s founding act, was highlighted as well. He warned that the CDC would use all legal and political means to resist what he termed as the Unity Party’s attempts to weaponize the judicial system for political gain. Weah stressed that these actions by the UP administration are not only unlawful but also a threat to the stability and security of the state.
Weah criticized the Unity Party for ignoring legal and constitutional protocols and pursuing reckless measures that he believes have only brought about disorder and confusion in Liberia’s recent history. He emphasized the importance of intelligence gathering and operations in maintaining public order in a post-conflict nation like Liberia. He stated that the Boakai administration’s actions are jeopardizing the hard-earned peace and stability of the country.
Reflecting on his own administration, Weah expressed pride in preserving the peace, security, and welfare of the country, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He highlighted his efforts in advancing the fight against corruption by granting the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) prosecutorial powers. He accused the current administration of undermining these efforts by selectively targeting officials from his administration while skipping previous General Auditing Commission (GAC) reports.
Weah reiterated his commitment to peace and stability, citing his history of advocating for a ceasefire during the civil war, leading disarmament efforts, serving as a peace ambassador, and conceding the recent election. He accused the Boakai administration of interpreting this commitment as weakness and using it as an opportunity to disturb the peace by targeting former officials of his government.
He also accused the Boakai administration of exploiting the legal system to maintain power, risking chaos, and attempting to divert public attention from the ongoing economic crisis. Weah pointed to instances of alleged corruption, including the use of public funds to bail out a private bank that he claimed was used to finance the Unity Party’s election campaign. He described these actions as clear indications of the administration’s intent to prioritize political interests over national welfare.
The former president announced plans for the CDC to hold mass meetings to inform its partisans about what he described as the Unity Party’s dangerous political witch-hunt. He called on other opposition members to join the fight to preserve Liberia’s political system. Weah pledged to engage with ECOWAS leaders and international partners to alert them to what he sees as the Unity Party’s plan to capture the political system for its own benefit.
In his concluding remarks, Weah quoted Nelson Mandela: “It is not our diversity which divides us; it is not our ethnicity, or religion or culture that divides us. Since we have achieved our freedom, there can only be one division amongst us: between those who cherish democracy and those who do not.” He urged Liberians to resist any attempts by the Boakai administration to disturb the peace that the country has enjoyed for over 20 years, emphasizing that the people deserve perpetual peace and stability.
Weah stressed that the CDC remains a party of law and order and will bring its full and immense political resources to bear to stop the Unity Party in its tracks. He affirmed his dedication to maintaining the integrity of Liberia’s democratic process and ensuring that justice and accountability prevail, despite the current administration’s actions.
