MONROVIA – The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has accused the Unity Party-led administration of President Joseph Boakai of engaging in tactics reminiscent of Liberia’s wartime past to silence political opponents and suppress dissent. In a statement issued on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, CDC National Chairman Atty. Janga A. Kowo alleged that state authorities are orchestrating a campaign of intimidation, unlawful arrests, and mistreatment of citizens exercising their constitutional rights.
The CDC’s statement highlighted what it described as an “arrest-to-kill” operation, claiming that individuals detained by the government are held in undisclosed locations and subjected to inhumane treatment. Among the victims named were Eric Susay, James Weah, and Andrew Sleh Lawson, whose lawyers have filed a writ of habeas corpus demanding that the government produce their living bodies.
According to the CDC, these arrests are part of a broader pattern of repression targeting political opponents and critics of the Boakai administration. The party expressed grave concern over the alleged use of excessive force against peaceful demonstrations, asserting that such actions undermine Liberia’s democratic principles and foster an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.
The CDC further accused the government of trading arrested individuals to hostile regimes, drawing parallels to past incidents where detainees were allegedly exchanged for material benefits. The party also condemned the deaths of two Liberians in Lofa County under mysterious circumstances, citing these incidents as evidence of the government’s failure to ensure the safety and security of its citizens.
Calling for accountability, the CDC demanded the immediate release of all those it claims have been unlawfully detained and urged the government to conduct transparent investigations into the rising number of mysterious deaths across the country. The party emphasized its commitment to upholding the rights to free speech and movement, vowing to pursue both legal and political actions to safeguard citizens’ freedoms.
