Liberia’s hard-won peace must not be endangered by reckless political threats. The Unity Party, President Boakai, and all opposition leaders must rise above partisan loyalty and condemn any rhetoric that risks dragging the nation back into chaos.
Liberia’s hard-fought peace, won through the blood, sweat, and sacrifices of countless innocent citizens, must never be taken for granted. Yet, the recent reckless statement by Ansu Dulleh, Chairman of the All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP), threatens to drag the nation back into the abyss of instability and conflict. During a Unity Party Alliance meeting on Sunday, April 27, Dulleh shamelessly boasted that his party is a “master of chaos,” an alarming and chilling proclamation that cannot be brushed aside.
Liberia’s history is marred by a brutal civil conflict that took the lives of an estimated 250,000 people. Entire communities were destroyed, children were turned into soldiers, and the soul of the nation was scarred in ways that still linger today. Against this tragic backdrop, any leader, particularly one aligned with the ruling coalition, who dares to invoke “chaos” as a weapon must be met with swift and unequivocal condemnation. The memories of the horrors endured during the civil crisis should serve as a solemn warning that language inciting violence has no place in Liberia’s democratic process.
The silence from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the Unity Party leadership is equally troubling. Their failure to denounce Dulleh’s inflammatory remarks not only emboldens dangerous rhetoric but also stains the integrity of the Unity Party Alliance. Being allied with ALCOP does not excuse silence in the face of threats to national peace. On the contrary, it demands a greater sense of responsibility. The ruling establishment must rise above petty political loyalties and speak forcefully against any utterance that undermines Liberia’s stability, even if it comes from within its own ranks.
President Boakai, who campaigned on promises of peace, integrity, and unity, must remember that leadership demands courage in the face of discomfort. The people of Liberia deserve more than whispered apologies behind closed doors. They deserve a clear and public rebuke of any suggestion that political disagreements should descend into chaos. They deserve reassurance that the tragedies of the past will never again be repeated.
At the same time, opposition political parties must also exercise restraint and maturity. The recent rise in provocative statements and threats of confrontation from both sides of the political divide only heightens the risk of instability. Opposition leaders, just as much as those in government, have a moral duty to protect the peace that so many Liberians have sacrificed for. Seeking political redress or advocating for change must be rooted in dialogue, constitutionalism, and the democratic process—not in veiled threats or inflammatory rhetoric.
Liberia stands at a critical crossroads. Either the nation recommits to safeguarding its democracy and nurturing a culture of peace, or it allows careless words to sow seeds of hatred and division. History has taught Liberia that once the flames of conflict are ignited, they are not easily extinguished. No individual, no party, and no alliance should place political ambition above the nation’s stability and the welfare of its people.
This is a time for leadership, not cowardice. President Boakai and the Unity Party Alliance must immediately and publicly distance themselves from Dulleh’s reckless statement. They must reaffirm their commitment to peace, dialogue, and national reconciliation. Meanwhile, opposition parties must tone down their rhetoric and act responsibly, mindful that Liberia’s future hangs in the balance.
The lives lost during Liberia’s civil conflict must not be forgotten. They must not be dishonored by a new generation of leaders who recklessly flirt with the language of destruction. Liberia deserves better. Its people deserve peace. Its children deserve a future untouched by the horrors of war. Every leader, whether in government or opposition, must rise to the occasion and act accordingly.
