‘Avoid repeat of the nonsense’ – U.S. Amb. McCarthy Condemns Attack Against Senator Prince Johnson’s Church

MONROVIA – United States Ambassador to Liberia Michael McCarthy has cautioned political party’s leaders against the use of inflammatory language that could lead to violence and disrupt the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.

In his roundtable press conference, Amb. McCarthy began by lauding political party leaders, civil society and international partners on the signing of the revised Farmington River Declaration affirming their commitment to peaceful elections but with a caveat that they should uphold the agreement.

“I’d like to commend the political leaders, Civil Society Organizations, and International dignitaries on the signing of the             Farmington River Declaration last month,” he said.

“These signatories [to the Farmington Declaration] made a clear commitment to prevent violence, cooperate with law enforcement agencies, expand voter education, avoid inflammatory language and disinformation, and accept the official election results, among many other elements. My congratulations come however with a caveat: going forward, I expect all parties to avoid a repeat of the nonsense we witnessed two weeks ago with the political disruption of a church service.  To the political leaders: if your signatures mean anything, we depend on your honor to uphold those high standards invoked in the Declaration.”

He said the true test of this commitment made in the Farmington Declaration will be the execution of a free, fair, transparent, and peaceful election process over the next 19 weeks.

He urged media institutions and integrity organizations to keep politicians of all parties accountable to their important Declaration commitments.

“Rather than simply reporting on the ‘horse race’, — ask politicians the tough questions about their platforms and records, shed light on policy inconsistencies, and remind the public what they stand to gain—or lose—in the lead up to October.  It is not easy, but your efforts to hold politicians and government officials accountable are critical to upholding Liberia’s democracy, and I salute you for it.”

On Sunday, May 21, the National Patriotic Party (NPP) Youth League, dressed in their party’s regalia, carrying banners and placards and chanting anti-PYJ and pro-war crimes court slogans stormed the Christ Chapel of Faith, disrupting normal services.

Senator Johnson and his congregation were left stranded in the Church’s compound for some time before exiting. He quickly accused the CDC of orchestrating a plan to assassinate him because he broke ties with them, and switched allegiance to former VP Joseph Nyumah Boakai.

The NPP, headed by VP Jewel Howard Taylor, is a constituent member of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC). Despite public outrage over the NPP Youth League’s action, President George Weah and VP Taylor have remained mum over the incident.

Amb. McCarthy’s statement comes a day after Naymote, Liberia’s leading pro-democracy institution called on the diplomatic missions and partners that have contributed immensely towards peace in Liberia to speak against actions that will undermine the peace and security of the state and impose sanctions and visa restrictions on perpetrators of violence and individuals making hate speech towards the 2023 elections.