MONROVIA – Officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, arrested several Unity Party Youth League members following violent clashes at the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The confrontation arose over protests against Minister Francis Nyumalin’s reported appointment of a new Deputy for Administration at the National Identification Registry (NIR), a position the youth claimed should have gone to party loyalist Alphanso Belleh.
According to eyewitnesses, the group of young Unity Party supporters staged a protest against Minister Nyumalin after reports surfaced that he had appointed another individual as Deputy for Administration at the NIR. The youth argued that the post rightfully belonged to Alphanso Belleh. Tensions escalated inside the ministry’s compound, resulting in violent clashes that required police intervention. Several protesters sustained serious injuries and were rushed to local health facilities for treatment. The arrested individuals were taken to police headquarters for investigation.
Earlier, on Monday, September 1, 2025, a related incident occurred at the National Identification Registry. Members claiming affiliation with the National Youth Congress of the Unity Party violently attacked Executive Director Andrew Peters and other senior staff members. During the attack, the group forcibly entered the office where Mr. Peters and the newly appointed Deputy Executive Director for Administration, Mr. Sylvester Nyumah, were present, assaulting them in the process.
The assailants reportedly seized cell phones, a laptop, and other personal belongings from Peters, as well as items from Communications Director Daniel Sloh Sargbe, Director for Operations Thierry Nagbo, Dispatcher Abraham Quehn, and Maintenance Officer Melvin Cole. The main door to the Executive Director’s office was also damaged during the attack.
This unrest follows the August 29, 2025, statement by the ruling Unity Party Youth Congress condemning what it described as an illegal and politically motivated reassignment of Alphonso Belleh. The Youth Congress criticized Minister Nyumalin’s decision to downgrade Belleh from Deputy for Administration, a post conferred upon him since February 20, 2024, to Manager for Research, Policy, and Development Planning, claiming it undermines the authority of the President.
