-Movement Vows Unshaken Resolve Ahead of July 17 Protest
Monrovia – The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), in collaboration with the “We The People” movement, has accused operatives of the National Security Agency (NSA) and the Liberia National Police (LNP) of orchestrating a failed assassination attempt against its chairman, Mulbah K. Morlu, a key organizer of the planned July 17 nationwide protest.
In a statement, the group condemned what it described as “desperate and cowardly” state-sponsored attacks aimed at silencing dissent ahead of the mass demonstration against the Boakai administration.
Assassination Attempt on Duport Road
According to STAND, the first incident occurred on the night of May 5, between 10:30 PM and 11:00 PM, near the Duport Road traffic light. Morlu reported being ambushed by unknown assailants, including a female accomplice, who allegedly attempted to forcibly open his vehicle. One attacker was visibly armed.
Morlu claimed he narrowly escaped by maneuvering through oncoming traffic, with his tinted windows and quick reflexes preventing a potentially fatal outcome. The only damage reported was to the front passenger door handle.
Second Attack in Paynesville
Two days later, on May 7, around 12:30 PM another alleged attempt unfolded near Joe Bar, Paynesville. An unidentified sedan reportedly blocked Morlu’s vehicle in a narrow driveway. Sensing danger, he accelerated toward the smaller car, forcing it to retreat.
STAND insists these were not isolated incidents but coordinated, state-sanctioned operations designed to intimidate protest leaders ahead of the July 17 demonstrations.
“An Emerging Dictatorship”
The movement accused the Boakai administration of abandoning democratic principles, citing defiance of Supreme Court rulings, illegal removal of tenured officials, and legislative manipulation as evidence of growing autocracy.
“When leaders attempt to crown themselves kings, the people must rise as revolutionaries,” the statement declared. “We will not compromise. We will not retreat. We will not be silenced.”
STAND claims to have counterintelligence sources within the NSA and LNP who have alerted them to ongoing surveillance, wiretapping, and even assassination plots against protest organizers.
The group issued a list of demands, including:
Compliance with Supreme Court orders, Restoration of wrongfully removed officials, Increased civil servant salaries to a minimum of US$500, Economic reforms to address widespread suffering and Constitutional amendments to reduce official tenures and introduce recall measures. “You may kill 100 fathers, but 300 sons will rise in defiance,” the statement warned, framing the struggle as a historic battle for Liberia’s future.
Despite the alleged threats, STAND and “We The People” remain resolute, vowing that no intimidation will stop their peaceful protest. “If true transformation demands our blood, then let it flow for Liberia’s redemption,” the statement concluded.
The Boakai administration has yet to respond to these allegations.
