-Into Police Brutality Against Chairman
Monrovia, Liberia – The Revolutionary National Youth League of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has formally appealed to the United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia, Madam Christine Umutoni, to launch an impartial investigation into the alleged brutalization of its Chairman, Cllr. Janga Augustus Kowo, by the Liberia National Police (LNP).
In a letter dated June 9, 2025, the CDC’syouth body (RNYL) condemned the incident, which occurred on June 7, 2025, on UN Drive in Monrovia. According to the party, Cllr. Kowo was en route to the Monrovia Central Prison to visit four detained CDC lawmakers, including former Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, when he was allegedly assaulted by police officers acting under the orders of Inspector General Gregory Coleman.
The CDC claims that video evidence shows Kowo behaving peacefully and not violating any laws before being “physically brutalized, tortured, and manhandled” by LNP officers. The party argues that the incident constitutes a violation of Article 17 and Article 21 of the Liberian Constitution, as well as the United Nations Convention Against Torture (UNCAT).
The letter warns that such actions risk destabilizing Liberia’s fragile peace, drawing parallels to the country’s 14-year civil war. The CDC further accused the LNP of a pattern of human rights abuses under Coleman’s leadership, citing several alleged extrajudicial killings, including:
- The deaths of three civilians in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County, on February 29, 2024.
- The fatal shooting of Austine Yarkpawolo on April 17, 2024.
- The killings of Bangalie Kamara and Essah Massaley on February 28, 2024.
- The shooting of 17-year-old student James Kandy on July 1, 2024.
The CDC urged the UN and international partners, including the U.S. Embassy, the European Union, ECOWAS, and the African Union, to intervene before the situation escalates. A video of the alleged assault on Kowo was attached as evidence.
The letter was signed by Emmanuel M. Johnson, National Chairman of the RNYL/CDC, and copied to Liberia’s Senate and House Committees on Security.
