MONROVIA, LIBERIA – SATURDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2024 – The Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has launched an intense critique of the Liberia National Police (LNP), accusing it of gross misconduct, human rights violations, and serving as a political tool under the leadership of Inspector General Gregory Coleman. In a communication dated October 11, 2024, and signed by CDC National Secretary General Jefferson Tamba Koijee, the party outlined a series of grievances directed at Coleman and the LNP, pointing to an alleged conspiracy to target the CDC and its members.
The letter came in response to a prior communication from the LNP, dated October 7, 2024, requesting the CDC’s attendance at a meeting regarding a legal dispute involving the estate of the late Martha Stubblefield Bernard. However, Koijee’s reply took a broader stance, condemning the police for what the CDC describes as a pattern of politicized behavior and unprofessionalism over the past nine months.
Koijee detailed several incidents in which the LNP allegedly failed to uphold its duty to protect citizens, citing instances of police brutality and negligence. “The Liberia National Police, under your leadership, has exhibited unprofessionalism and reneged on its statutory responsibilities to protect lives, and properties, and uphold the rule of law of the country,” Koijee asserted.
Among the numerous cases mentioned was the killing of peaceful citizens in the Kinjor Massacre, the shooting of a 17-year-old boy named James Kany in the Rehab community, and the murder of Amanda Nebo, a former City Police officer, by criminals while under police watch. The CDC further accused the LNP of being complicit in various other deaths and violent incidents across the country, adding to the climate of fear and insecurity for Liberian citizens.
The CDC also linked Inspector General Coleman to the reemergence of “malicious police practices,” citing his past association with Charles Taylor’s notorious “Sons of Demons” police unit. According to Koijee, Coleman’s history of involvement in human rights abuses during Liberia’s civil conflict has resurfaced under his current leadership of the police, with allegations of misconduct and the reinstatement of officers previously implicated in serious crimes.
“The Liberia National Police has not only proven its highest level of police partisanship,” the letter reads, claiming that the force, under Coleman, has become a politically motivated entity that answers to the current administration of President Joseph Boakai. Koijee expressed particular disdain for what he described as Coleman’s use of social media to “show gross insensitivity towards major police crimes.”
The CDC’s letter also took issue with the LNP’s involvement in events surrounding the August 2024 police raids on CDC premises, during which the party claimed its headquarters was invaded, partisans were injured, and significant property damage was incurred. The party vowed never to allow the LNP to overstep its bounds again, declaring, “We have vowed as a party to mobilize and build ranks for our common defense.”
In concluding the communication, the CDC called on Coleman to cease his alleged complicity in the politicization of the police force and demanded justice for the various abuses it claims to have suffered. Copies of the letter were sent to the U.S. Embassy, the European Union, and ECOWAS, signaling the CDC’s intention to internationalize its grievances.
With accusations flying and the political temperature rising, this latest exchange between the CDC and the LNP is likely to further deepen tensions in a country still tackling with the aftermath of its tumultuous political past.
