MONROVIA, LIBERIA – A chaotic scene unfolded on Thursday, August 22, 2024, in Congo Town, Monrovia, as tensions between the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the government of Liberia intensified. Heavily armed officers from the Liberia National Police (LNP) have surrounded the headquarters of the main opposition party, the CDC, leading to widespread fear and uncertainty.
The reasons behind the heavy police presence remain unclear, fueling speculation and anxiety among the public. As the situation developed, CDC supporters gathered outside the party’s headquarters, chanting slogans against President Joseph Boakai and hurling insults at the government. The atmosphere quickly turned volatile as angered partisans began throwing stones at the police, prompting fears of potential damage and injuries among vehicles and pedestrians in the vicinity.
The actions of the police have drawn sharp criticism from the CDC’s National Secretary General, Jefferson Koijee, who condemned the operation as an unwarranted provocation. “At late night, a police pickup drove into the CDC compound and began to shoot and raid the environment. The whereabouts of some partisans are unknown. Such provocation is unfortunate and calls for immediate attention,” Koijee stated.
He continued, highlighting the repeated confrontations between the CDC and state security forces. “Heavily armed state securities have invaded our party’s headquarters for the second time this early morning, engaging in sporadic shootings that sent panic and pandemonium among citizens and partisans in and around the party’s headquarters.”
Koijee’s statement also included an urgent plea to international bodies and regional organizations. “We’re calling the immediate attention of ECOWAS, AU, the international community, the Liberian people, and CDCians in particular to this unscrupulous action of the Boakai administration that is geared towards disrupting our hard-earned peace. We keep calling out that the peace of this country is far bigger than Boakai and his gang of political desperadoes,” he asserted.
The Liberia National Police have yet to issue an official statement explaining the heavy presence around the CDC headquarters, leaving the public in suspense and deepening the tension between the government and the opposition. The lack of communication from the authorities has only heightened fears among Liberians, who worry that the standoff could escalate further.
As the situation remains fluid and unpredictable, the confrontation between the CDC and the government has once again spotlighted the fragile state of Liberia’s political landscape. The opposition’s accusations against President Boakai’s administration for allegedly using force to suppress dissent have raised alarms about the potential impact on the nation’s peace and stability.
This is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
