-Warn Against Political Persecution
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia – Four of Liberia’s major opposition parties have jointly demanded the “immediate and unconditional release” of four lawmakers detained by police amid an investigation into the Capitol Building fire, denouncing the government’s actions as a dangerous politicization of justice.
The Alternative National Congress (ANC), Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), and Citizens Movement for Change (CMC) issued a statement on Friday, accusing authorities of targeting opposition figures—Honorables J. Fonati Koffa, Dixon W. Seboe, Abu Kamara, and Jacob Debee II—without due process.
The lawmakers were held at the Liberia National Police (LNP) headquarters for nearly 12 hours on June 6, raising fears of imminent arrest in what the coalition called a “blatant abuse of power.” “The government’s actions are not only undemocratic but a direct threat to Liberia’s hard-won peace,” the statement read. “Detaining lawmakers who pose no flight risk, without formal charges, mirrors the oppressive tactics of past regimes.”
The opposition alliance warned that the prolonged detention of the lawmakers—reportedly in connection with the Capitol Building fire investigation—appeared timed to intimidate critics ahead of key political developments. They argued that while accountability is necessary, the probe must remain impartial and free from political interference.
“Summoning lawmakers at dawn and holding them until nightfall, with clear intent to incarcerate them, is not justice—it is persecution,” the statement continued. “Liberia cannot afford to relapse into an era where the judiciary serves as a tool for silencing dissent.”
Warning to Government
The parties, led by prominent figures including former President George Weah (CDC) and opposition leader Alexander Cummings (ANC), emphasized that their demand for the lawmakers’ release is “non-negotiable.” They cautioned that failure to comply could trigger widespread public backlash.
“We remain committed to peace, but this must not be mistaken for weakness,” the statement asserted. “If the government continues down this path, the people will respond through all legal and democratic means.”
