– Ex-Pres. Weah Says, Rallies Opposition As He Declares Road to 2029 Begins
By Jerromie S. Walters
ZWEDRU, GRAND GEDEH COUNTY – Former President George Manneh Weah has accused the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai of turning Liberia into a “narco state,” in a public critique of the Unity Party government. Speaking Saturday before thousands of supporters via online in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, Weah used the 22nd anniversary celebration of his Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) to allege that drug trafficking networks operate with official protection while democratic institutions are being systematically weakened.
The former president also declared that “the road to 2029 begins today,” calling on CDC supporters, opposition political parties, and ordinary Liberians to begin mobilizing for the next presidential election.
Weah accused the Unity Party government of abandoning Liberians despite campaign promises of rescue and transformation. He claimed that under President Boakai, families are struggling, businesses are closing, young people have been neglected, and entire communities have been forgotten.
“The gap between political promises and the reality we face is stark,” Weah told the crowd. “These are legitimate concerns, and the Liberian people deserve answers.” Without presenting evidence, Weah further alleged that the Boakai administration has reversed Liberia’s democratic gains by persecuting political opponents, suppressing free speech, and deploying security forces against peaceful citizens rather than protecting the public.
He claimed President Boakai has weakened the rule of law by disregarding decisions of Liberia’s Supreme Court and exerting pressure on members of the judiciary to align with the executive branch.
Turning to national security, Weah alleged that Liberia’s sovereignty has been compromised, claiming foreign troops are occupying Liberian territory while the government has failed to adequately address reported border encroachment in Lofa County.
Weah accused the current administration of failing to confront organized drug trafficking. “Liberia has turned into a narco state,” Weah declared, alleging that officials involved in drug trafficking are being shielded because they are part of the government itself. He provided no evidence to support the allegation
The Drug Crisis in Liberia
Drug abuse has remained a national health and security emergency in Liberia for years. According to the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), an estimated 13 percent of the general population abuses drugs, with approximately 20 percent—over one million—of young Liberians addicted to narcotic substances.
The issue was a central theme in the 2023 presidential election campaign. The Unity Party, then in opposition, vehemently criticized the Weah administration’s handling of the drug crisis, using the spread of the synthetic substance “Kush” as a campaign weapon against the former government.
The Weah administration had taken some steps, including the passage and signing of a non-bailable drug law and the June 2022 launch of a US$13.9 million program to support at-risk youth battling drug abuse. Weah pledged an initial US$1 million as the government’s contribution toward the program.
However, the Unity Party argued these efforts were insufficient, and voters appeared to agree, choosing to replace Weah with Boakai in the November 2023 runoff election.
Boakai anti-drug efforts
Since taking office on January 22, 2024, President Boakai has declared the drug crisis a national emergency. In January 2024, he formed a Multisectoral Steering Committee to lead inter-ministerial efforts against drug trafficking and abuse. The government formally launched the National Anti-Drug Action Plan (2025–2030) in late 2025, a five-year framework initially budgeted at US$200,000 that unifies public health, security, and education initiatives.
Between 2024 and 2025, the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) confiscated 9,651.23 kilograms of illegal substances valued at over US$4.9 million in nationwide operations. Several LDEA heads have been relieved of their posts by President Boakai for administrative reasons or failure to produce expected results. On June 8, 2026, the LDEA intercepted 198 compressed cocaine plates weighing approximately 237.6 kilograms hidden inside six cargo boxes destined for Europe via Brussels Airlines.
In response, President Boakai suspended Peter Malcolm King—one of those identified as persons of interest—from his position on the board of the National Oil Company of Liberia. Despite these efforts, the drug crisis persists, and Weah now appears poised to use the issue against the Boakai administration in the same way the Unity Party used it against him.
A Movement Born in the Hearts of Ordinary People
Reflecting on the CDC’s founding twenty-two years ago, Weah said the party emerged from Liberia’s forgotten communities rather than political elites.
“Not in the corridors of power. Not among the wealthy and privileged. It was born in the hearts of ordinary people—in forgotten communities, among market women, students, motorcyclists, farmers, workers, and young people who demanded to be heard,” Weah told the crowd.
The former president, who noted he celebrated 33 years of marriage to former First Lady Clar Marie Weah on Thursday, thanked Grand Gedeh County for hosting the event and praised the presence of opposition leaders as proof that “political leaders who seek the best interest of Liberia can and must work together.”
Defending his presidency, Weah said his administration prioritized “lifting ordinary people out of poverty” through road construction, market buildings, housing units in poor communities, and expanded access to affordable education. “When I walked into the Executive Mansion, millions of Liberians walked through that door with me. That is the story of the CDC. That is our legacy. That is our pride,” he stated.
Weah dismissed suggestions that the CDC has lost its political relevance, insisting the party remains united, organized, energized, and prepared to return to power.
“A movement built by the people cannot be destroyed by propaganda. A movement built on hope cannot be defeated by temporary setbacks,” he declared.
The anniversary celebration reflected growing cooperation among opposition figures from across Liberia’s political landscape. Among those attending were Alexander Cummings of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Musa Hassan Bility of the Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), Simeon Freeman of the Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), Dee-Maxwell Kemayah of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely, and former Justice Minister Kabineh Ja’neh.
Former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor also issued a public statement expressing support for the CDC anniversary. Weah praised the attendance of opposition leaders, describing their presence as evidence that political actors committed to Liberia’s national interest can work together despite belonging to different political parties.
The Road to 2029
As the CDC celebrated its 22nd anniversary, Weah left little doubt that the event was intended to mark more than the party’s history. “The road to 2029 begins today,” Weah declared. “This is not the time for division. This is not the time for complacency. This is the time for mobilization.” “This is the time for mobilization. A time to march forward. Let the message leave Zwedru today and travel across every county, every district, every town, every village,” Weah told supporters.
The anniversary celebration comes amid heightened political tension ahead of the 2029 general elections. The CDC lost power to President Joseph Boakai’s Unity Party in the 2023 elections, with Boakai winning 50.64 percent of the vote compared to Weah’s 49.36 percent—a margin of just 20,567 votes. Both Weah and the opposition leaders who attended Saturday’s event have signaled intent to unseat the Unity Party, with the Zwedru gathering showcasing a rare public alignment of major opposition figures.
The 2023 election marked a significant moment in Liberia’s democratic journey. Weah conceded defeat days before final results were announced based on returns from more than 99.98 percent of polling stations, a move widely praised as demonstrating democratic maturity. President Boakai was inaugurated on January 22, 2024, and has now been in office for nearly two and a half years.
The Unity Party campaigned heavily on promises to rescue Liberia from what it described as the hardships imposed by the Weah administration, including drug abuse, corruption, mysterious killings, and economic difficulties. Now, with the 2029 election approaching, Weah appears ready to use similar tactics against his successor, accusing the Boakai administration of failing to address the very issues that propelled it into power.
