MONROVIA – Former Monrovia Mayor and Secretary General of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Jefferson Tamba Koijee, criticized the US State Department’s 2023 Human Rights Report on Liberia.
In his statement on Tuesday, April 30, 2024, titled “Looking Deeper Into The Recent U.S. Annual Human Rights Report Of 2023; Grave Human Rights Issues That Were Left Out!!!,” Koijee highlighted several human rights issues that he believes were overlooked in the report. He also accused the report of being selective and of failing to acknowledge the CDC’s role in promoting democratic values in Africa.
The US State Department’s report, released on April 22, 2024, focused on various human rights violations in Liberia, including extrajudicial killings, torture, harsh prison conditions, corruption, gender-based violence, and restrictions on freedom of expression. The report noted that the CDC government did not take credible steps to punish officials responsible for these abuses.
Koijee, however, argued that the report failed to address instances of social media misuse, violence by the opposition Unity Party, and US citizens’ disregard for human rights. He accused Unity Party members, including candidate Joseph Boakai, of inciting violence during the 2023 election campaign. Koijee claimed that several CDC supporters were killed by Unity Party members, and he criticized Boakai for allegedly rewarding those responsible for the violence with government positions.
He also accused US-based Liberians of spreading misinformation and inciting rebellion against the CDC government. Koijee claimed that despite efforts to defend himself against these accusations, including legal action in US courts, the US government took no action against those spreading false information.
Koijee emphasized that disinformation should be considered a human rights violation, as it can incite hatred and violence. He criticized the US government for not condemning a US citizen, Lucas Richards, who was acquitted of attempted murder in Liberia and returned to the US.
Despite facing accusations of corruption and other crimes, Koijee maintained his innocence and vowed to defend himself against his accusers. He argued that his efforts to promote democracy in Liberia have been instrumental in the country’s transition to a stronger democracy in Africa.
