–SUP Protests Amid UL Ban on Student Politics
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA – In direct defiance of the University of Liberia’s Board of Trustees, the Student Unification Party (SUP) has announced it will stage a peaceful protest on the Capitol Hill Campus this Monday, September 15. The demonstration aims to demand immediate changes regarding the pressing issues facing students and faculty, setting the stage for a potential confrontation with university authorities.
The protest announcement comes just days after the Board of Trustees reaffirmed its 2024 decision to suspend all student political activities on campus, citing recent violent incidents and ongoing disruptions. Despite the ban, SUP is invoking its constitutional rights, calling on “all students, ideologues, and masses of the people to join us in defending social justice, academic freedom, and peace.”
In a statement laden with political tension, the group condemned what it called “the Boakai administration’s attempts to sponsor thugs posing as a ‘student group’ to disrupt our action.” SUP emphasized that its assembly is protected under Article 17 of the Liberian Constitution and international laws guaranteeing the right to peaceful protest.
The university’s Board of Trustees had earlier moved to tighten campus regulations following clashes between students and security personnel on September 1 and September 11, which disrupted academic activities and student orientation. The Board also ordered the immediate suspension of students involved in those incidents and mandated the establishment of a disciplinary committee to enforce the student handbook.
SUP’s planned protest highlights growing unrest around issues including faculty negotiations, campus facilities, and student rights. The group has openly invited the media, civil society, and the international community to witness Monday’s events, framing the protest as a legitimate stand against intimidation and injustice.
Referring to itself as “The Vanguard Party,” SUP reiterated its commitment to protecting the rights of students and ordinary citizens, ending its declaration with the rallying cry: “Long live SUP!”
The Suepension:
Over the weekend, the Board of Trustees of the University of Liberia reaffirmed its 2024 decision to suspend all student political activities on campus due to ongoing disruptions to academic operations and persistent student violence. This decision follows specific clashes between students and security personnel on the Capitol Hill Campus on September 1, 2025, and further disruptions during student orientation at the Fendall Campus on September 11, 2025.
As a result, the Board has issued directives to the UL Administration, stating that all students involved in the incidents on September 1 and September 11 must be suspended immediately in accordance with the Student Handbook, pending a detailed investigation. Furthermore, the Administration is instructed to establish a strong Standing Disciplinary Committee without delay to enforce the Student Handbook.
The Board also emphasized the need to conclude ongoing negotiations with the University of Liberia Faculty Association (ULFA), noting that the UL administration has already addressed many of their demands in good faith. Additionally, classes must commence immediately to ensure the start of the current term, and renovations of critical facilities, beginning with bathrooms, should begin without delay.
The Board of Trustees reiterated its commitment to maintaining a safe and conducive learning environment for all students and a hospitable working environment for all employees, stressing that it will not tolerate any form of violence or disruption that jeopardizes the academic and administrative activities of the University. All stakeholders are urged to cooperate with the administration in implementing these directives.
This statement was issued in Monrovia, Liberia, on the 12th day of September, 2025, by Numene H.T. Bartekwa, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of Liberia.
