Ex-Liberian President Weah Condemns Unlawful Detentions and Political Targeting by Unity Party Administration

By: Z. Benjamin Keibah

Monrovia, Liberia: Ex-President George Weah has strongly condemned the recent actions of the Unity Party (UP) Administration, accusing it of engaging in unlawful detentions and political targeting. In a passionate address to the nation, Weah criticized President Joseph Boakai's government for ordering heavily armed security personnel to detain several former officials without indictment, a move he described as a blatant attempt to undermine the opposition and destabilize the country.

The detentions, which included four former members of the National Security Council, are part of what Weah claims is a broader pattern of harassment, corruption, and disregard for the rule of law by the UP administration. "This is the latest transgression of the Boakai Administration in their callous attempt to undermine the rule of law and security of the state," Weah asserted. He argued that these actions were taken without the necessary legal indictments, emphasizing the political motives behind them.

Weah outlined a series of grievances against the current government, highlighting multiple issues: harassment and removal of civil servants based purely on party lines, excessive use of force against citizens resulting in several deaths, failure to prosecute those responsible for election-related violence, disregard for tenure laws despite rulings by the Liberia Supreme Court, violations of procurement laws, and denial of benefits to duly commissioned foreign service officials.

Weah called on the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and other opposition groups to unite in resisting these actions through all legal and political means. He also urged international partners, including ECOWAS, to take note of the situation and support efforts to maintain peace and stability in Liberia. "The CDC will use all legal and political means at its disposal to resist this move to weaponize the country's judicial system to its selfish advantage," Weah declared.

The ex-President defended his administration's record on peace, security, and anti-corruption efforts. He recalled his government's success in navigating the COVID-19 pandemic and reforms to empower the Liberian Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) with direct prosecutorial powers. "We advanced the fight against corruption on many fronts, including granting the LACC direct prosecutorial powers, which is critical to the fight against corruption," Weah stated. He criticized the current administration's selective use of General Auditing Commission (GAC) reports, arguing that this undermines the integrity of the LACC.

Weah expressed concern over the Boakai administration's apparent disregard for peace and stability, highlighting the CDC's commitment to these principles even during challenging times. He accused the current government of using public funds improperly and engaging in corruption, diverting attention from the country's economic crisis. "Suddenly, officials who once gained notoriety for public theft now want us to believe they have transformed into referees of good governance," he remarked.

In his closing remarks, Weah invoked the words of Nelson Mandela: "It is not our diversity which divides us; it is not our ethnicity, or religion, or culture that divides us. Since we have achieved our freedom, there can only be one division amongst us: between those who cherish democracy and those who do not." He called on the Liberian people to resist any attempts by the Boakai administration to disrupt peace and stability, reaffirming his commitment to the country's democratic values.