The Liberian movement STAND–WE THE PEOPLE has issued a scathing rebuke of President Joseph Boakai’s administration, warning that the government is rapidly eroding democratic freedoms through systematic attacks on free speech and political dissent. In a strongly worded statement released today in Monrovia, the group’s chairman Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr. condemned what he described as an escalating pattern of authoritarian behavior targeting opposition voices, particularly Senator Edwin Snowe and critical journalists.
STAND’s statement highlights a troubling reversal of democratic principles by the Boakai-Koung administration, noting that the same free speech protections the president once championed as opposition leader are now being weaponized against his critics. The group alleges that Senator Snowe’s recent criticisms of government corruption – constitutionally protected political speech – have been wrongly characterized as treasonous by the administration, prompting what STAND calls “state-sponsored intimidation and propaganda campaigns” against the senator.
The political movement paints a disturbing picture of democratic institutions crumbling under executive pressure, with STAND claiming that Liberian courts now operate in fear of the administration while the legislature rubber-stamps presidential directives without independent scrutiny. Of particular concern is the group’s accusation that Vice President Jeremiah Koung, who once publicly questioned President Boakai’s mental fitness for office, is now exploiting the president’s perceived weaknesses to orchestrate a broader campaign of political oppression.
STAND’s statement draws sharp historical parallels between the current administration’s tactics and Liberia’s past authoritarian regimes, pointing to what it calls coordinated harassment of not just Senator Snowe but also independent journalists like Stanton Witherspoon. The group warns these are not isolated incidents but rather components of a deliberate strategy to silence all opposition voices and consolidate absolute power ahead of crucial elections.
In a dramatic escalation of rhetoric, STAND reminds President Boakai of his own fierce opposition rhetoric against former President George Weah, when he warned that Weah’s reelection would “destroy Liberia” and vowed to make him a one-term president. The group pointedly asks how the president can justify employing the same repressive tactics he once condemned now that he holds power himself.
The statement culminates in a call to action, with STAND announcing plans for nationwide resistance on July 17 – Liberia’s Constitution Day – to protest what it describes as the administration’s attacks on civil liberties, economic mismanagement, and systemic corruption. The group frames this as a decisive moment for Liberian democracy, vowing that “the people will rise unstoppable” against what it characterizes as an increasingly authoritarian regime.
Political analysts note the gravity of STAND’s allegations comes at a sensitive time for Liberia, with the country facing mounting economic challenges and growing international scrutiny of its democratic trajectory. The statement’s release follows several high-profile incidents where government critics have faced legal and political pressure, though the Boakai administration had not formally responded to STAND’s specific charges by the time of publication.
The group’s warning about democratic backsliding carries particular weight given Liberia’s fragile post-civil war political institutions and history of authoritarian rule. STAND’s pledge to mobilize mass resistance on Constitution Day sets the stage for potentially significant political confrontations in the coming weeks, as both supporters and critics of the administration prepare for what could become a defining moment in Liberia’s democratic development.
Key Elements of STAND’s Accusations:
The Boakai-Koung administration has abandoned its democratic principles and is systematically targeting political opponents through state-sponsored intimidation. Senator Edwin Snowe’s constitutionally protected criticisms of government corruption are being wrongly characterized as treasonous. Democratic institutions including the judiciary and legislature have surrendered their independence to executive pressure. Vice President Jeremiah Koung is allegedly manipulating power dynamics to consolidate control. The administration is employing tactics similar to those it once condemned when in opposition.
STAND has announced nationwide protests scheduled for July 17 (Liberia’s Constitution Day) to oppose what it views as the administration’s authoritarian drift, economic mismanagement, and corruption. The group vows this will be a decisive moment to reclaim democratic freedoms.
The statement highlights President Boakai’s own past as a fierce opposition critic who warned against democratic backsliding under former President Weah. STAND questions how the president can justify using similar repressive tactics now that he holds power. The allegations come amid growing concerns about Liberia’s democratic trajectory and economic challenges.
