MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Jefferson Tamba Koijee, former Mayor of Monrovia and current National Secretary General of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), has written to former U.S. President Donald Trump, outlining serious accusations against Liberia’s President Joseph Boakai. In his letter dated February 26, 2025, Koijee detailed allegations of corruption, human rights violations, and the misuse of U.S. foreign aid under Boakai’s leadership.
Koijee began by expressing his optimism for Trump’s potential return to the U.S. presidency, claiming that only Trump’s leadership could curb what he described as global instability and the promotion of “gender revisionism” in Africa. According to Koijee, American taxpayer dollars are being misused to push progressive social agendas in vulnerable African nations, including Liberia, while ignoring pressing developmental issues.
He accused the Boakai administration of gross financial misconduct, citing specific cases of unexplained expenditures. Among the allegations, Koijee highlighted $2.3 million in unaccounted-for miscellaneous expenses, $15 million in off-budget spending, and the transfer of $100,000 onto President Boakai’s personal debit card for undisclosed transactions. He also alleged that the government paid $374,239.24 to former Central Bank Governor Aloysius Tarlue to pressure him into resigning and inflated vehicle costs for the National Oil Company of Liberia’s CEO by allocating $75,000 for a $45,000 purchase.
Koijee’s letter further accused President Boakai of undermining democratic governance by orchestrating what he termed a “legislative coup.” He claimed that Boakai used state resources to remove the legally elected Speaker of the House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, in a move to consolidate executive power and disrupt legislative oversight. He also alleged that Boakai is operating an illegal budget that was not signed by the legitimate Speaker, thus violating constitutional checks and balances.
Citing Liberia’s Constitution, Koijee argued that Boakai’s actions could amount to treason. He referenced Article 76, Section 5, which defines treason as any act that seeks to “abrogate or subvert the Constitution by force or other means.” According to Koijee, Boakai’s interference in the Legislature meets this threshold and represents a dangerous threat to Liberia’s democratic stability.
The letter also painted a grim picture of human rights conditions under Boakai’s administration. Koijee alleged that over one hundred people have died due to state-sponsored violence, including incidents of police brutality, sodomy, and ritualistic killings. He claimed that the administration is actively suppressing dissent by harassing opposition figures and ordinary citizens who express discontent.
Koijee referenced the August 2024 raids on the CDC headquarters, where he claimed police violently attacked peaceful demonstrators and caused over $50,000 in property damage. He also accused Boakai of ordering the Armed Forces of Liberia to block former President George Weah from accessing the VIP lounge at the Roberts International Airport in June 2024, describing the incident as a near-assassination attempt.
The letter criticized the Boakai administration’s alleged manipulation of U.S. foreign aid, particularly a $1.5 million USAID grant intended to promote voter confidence. Koijee accused the Election Coordinating Committee (ECC), a beneficiary of these funds, of colluding with the ruling Unity Party to undermine electoral integrity. He called for a full-scale investigation into USAID’s activities in Liberia, asserting that American taxpayer dollars are being misappropriated to maintain Boakai’s grip on power.
Koijee also urged Trump to halt the deportation of 1,563 Liberians living in the United States, arguing that returning them to Liberia under Boakai’s government would expose them to persecution and violence. He praised Trump’s previous support for Liberian immigrants, including the 2018 extension of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) and the 2019 enactment of the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) provision, and called on him to maintain these protections.
In a sharp rebuke of the Boakai administration’s economic policies, Koijee said Liberia remains plagued by extreme poverty despite its wealth of natural resources. He argued that mismanagement and corruption have left millions of Liberians without access to clean water, electricity, employment, and healthcare.
Koijee’s letter also targeted the U.S. diplomatic mission in Liberia. He accused Ms. Catherine Rodriguez of USAID of improperly influencing Liberia’s political affairs and endorsing corrupt institutions. He commended Elon Musk and the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency for exposing corruption in USAID’s Liberia operations.
Throughout the letter, Koijee sought to frame Trump as a champion of traditional values and a global leader who could counteract what he described as the destructive policies of the Democratic Party. He applauded Trump’s establishment of the Faith Advisory Council and compared his leadership to that of the biblical King Cyrus, who liberated the Jews from Babylon.
Concluding his letter, Koijee urged Trump to support Liberia’s fight against corruption and human rights abuses. He emphasized the historical ties between the United States and Liberia, referencing the nation’s capital city, Monrovia, named after U.S. President James Monroe, as a symbol of the enduring bond between the two countries.
