MONROVIA – The opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has accused the administration of Joseph Nyuma Boakai of endangering Liberia’s national stability, warning that the government’s handling of tensions along the Liberia–Guinea border in Lofa County could escalate into a broader regional security crisis.
In a press release issued on Friday, March 13, 2026, the CDC described the developments around Sorlumba and the Makona River as a “dangerous gamble with national peace,” arguing that Liberia’s hard-earned stability is being threatened by what it called weak leadership and questionable political interests within the current administration.
“The Coalition for Democratic Change speaks today with the voice of a movement that has defended Liberia’s peace for nearly two decades,” the party stated. “For twelve years in opposition and six years in government, Liberia remained stable because the CDC stood as a disciplined political force. Even while opposing those in power, we refused to endanger the fragile peace of the Republic.”
According to the CDC, reports from local communities indicate that Guinean military forces allegedly crossed into Liberian territory near the Makona River and seized mining equipment operating along the border. The party also referenced videos circulating on social media that appear to show the Guinean national flag raised within Liberian territory.
“Gunshots were reportedly fired, and a citizen was injured,” the CDC said in the statement. “This is not normal. This is not leadership. This is a dangerous failure of the Boakai regime.”
The opposition further criticized what it described as the government’s inconsistent approach to national security, arguing that the administration has shown greater urgency in dealing with domestic matters than in addressing threats to Liberia’s territorial integrity.
“A government that can quickly deploy bulldozers and security forces to demolish the homes of defenseless Liberians now appears unable to defend the dignity of the Republic itself,” the CDC declared in its statement.
The party also referenced the recent decision by the Boakai administration to disband a Muslim private security arrangement that had reportedly operated peacefully in Liberia for nearly ten years, particularly during the month of Ramadan. According to the CDC, the government acted swiftly in that situation but has not demonstrated the same urgency in addressing the unfolding border crisis.
Central to the CDC’s accusations are allegations involving Francis Sakila Nyumalin, Liberia’s Minister of Internal Affairs. The party cited reports from residents suggesting that mining equipment associated with interests linked to the minister had been operating in the disputed area along the border.
“Did the private interests of a government minister ignite a confrontation between Liberia and Guinea?” the CDC asked, raising concerns about whether personal or political interests may have contributed to tensions between the two neighboring countries.
The CDC also referenced reports suggesting that sand mining activities along the Makona River may be connected to the construction of a widely discussed mansion reportedly being built for President Boakai in Foya District, although these claims have not been independently verified.
Further allegations in the party’s statement involve Njamilah Saah Bornguoi, Commissioner of Foya District, whom the CDC claims may have mobilized armed youths to guard mining operations in the area. According to the opposition party, videos circulating online show groups of men carrying machetes and firearms in Foya and surrounding communities.
The CDC argued that such developments raise serious questions about whether government authority is being used to shield irregular armed groups operating in a sensitive border zone. “Has the authority of the Liberian state been turned into a shield for irregular militia operating under the command or protection of Internal Affairs Minister Francis Sakila Nyumalin?” the statement asked.
Beyond Liberia’s internal political debate, the party warned that the unfolding developments could threaten the stability of the Mano River Union, the regional bloc linking Liberia, Guinea, Sierra Leone, and Côte d’Ivoire in a framework designed to promote peace and cooperation in West Africa.
“What is unfolding today is not simply a local dispute,” the CDC said. “The reckless actions now unfolding in Foya and along the Makona River threaten the stability of the entire Mano River sub-region.”
The CDC cautioned that continued tensions along the border could draw the attention of regional and international bodies, including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union, and the United Nations, which have historically intervened to preserve peace and stability in West Africa.
In its closing remarks, the party called on the international community, including the United States and the European Union, to closely monitor developments along the Liberia–Guinea border and ensure that Liberia’s sovereignty and the region’s stability are protected.
The statement, signed by CDC Secretary General Jefferson Tamba Koijee, concluded by questioning how a country that maintained relative stability for nearly two decades now finds itself facing a border crisis within just two years of the Boakai administration. “Liberia deserves answers,” the party declared.
