–Rejects its Mediation Role
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA – Liberian civil society group Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) has refused to sit at the same table with the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC), labeling the religious body’s leadership as “regime collaborators” and questioning their impartiality.
The confrontation emerged from an invitation extended by the Ministry of Justice to STAND, inviting them to a roundtable discussion with the Liberia National Police (LNP) and the LCC to coordinate security for the planned December 17, 2025, “Lead or Leave” protest.
In a letter dated November 3, 2025, Col. Wilson W. Boe, Sr., Coordinator of the Joint Security, commended STAND for the “peaceful and orderly conduct” of their previous protest on July 17. The Ministry formally acknowledged the group’s constitutional right to assemble and invited them to a meeting on November 7 to make “appropriate arrangements.” However, STAND’s response, delivered on November 5, has introduced a volatile new condition for the talks.
While accepting the invitation in principle, the group’s Chairman, Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr., stated they would be “unable to attend the meeting if the current leadership of the Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) is in attendance.” The letter from STAND pulls no punches, explicitly stating that “consistent observations and prior experiences… compromise the Council’s neutrality and moral standing, casting its current leadership as more of regime collaborators than impartial clergy.”
The group laid out a three-point indictment against the LCC, accusing the council of a “Failure to Exercise Neutrality.” STAND pointed to President Joseph Boakai’s public ridicule of the July 17 protest, noting that the LCC leadership remained “conspicuously silent” and failed in its “moral and civic duty to promote reconciliation.” Further, STAND accused the LCC of “Demonstrated Bias Toward the Regime,” alleging the council has “repeatedly aligned itself with government interests,” including offering support to controversial figures within the Boakai administration.
The final charge leveled by the opposition group is one of “Ethical Misjudgment and Loss of Credibility.” STAND referenced a prior decision by the LCC to “confer honors upon a public official whose rise to the Speakership was widely regarded as tainted by corruption,” an act they say “further eroded its credibility.” Citing these grounds, STAND’s letter concluded it would be “both impractical and inconsistent with our values” to engage with the LCC. They have formally requested the Ministry of Justice to proceed with the security discussions without the clergy present.
The Liberia Council of Churches is a national embodiment of Churches of the main line, Pentecostal, Church related Organizations and Institutions that partners with national ecumenical bodies and international including the All African Council of Churches (AACC) and the World Council of Churches.
However, the Council (LCC) ignited a national debate on Friday, May 30, 2025, when it conferred one of its highest honors—induction into the Bishop George D. Brown Hall of Fame—on House Speaker Rt. Hon. Richard Nagbe Koon for what it termed his “exemplary leadership and unwavering commitment to national development and reconciliation.”
Among the most vocal critics was former Foreign Affairs Minister Olubanke King-Akerele, who minced no words in her disapproval. “It is wrong. He is not supposed to be honored. It’s a disgrace. This is wrong. He gat no business being honored,” King-Akerele asserted, capturing the sentiment of many Liberians who view Speaker Koon’s previous controversial political ascent as disqualifying for such recognition.
Koon’s earlier path to the speakership was mired in controversy. His election on November 21, 2024, following months of bitter infighting within the House of Representatives, was marred by allegations of constitutional violations and procedural irregularities.
STAND says its refusal to sit with the Council (LCC) is backed by this and several other reasons. The Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) is a prominent Liberian civil society and political pressure group, led by Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr., and dedicated to advocating for justice, accountability, and equality. Early last month, STAND, in coalition with the “WE THE PEOPLE” Movement, escalated its ongoing confrontation with the government by officially notifying it of a massive nationwide protest scheduled for December 17, 2025.
The announcement was formalized in a letter addressed to Cllr. Oswald Tweh, Liberia’s Minister of Justice and Attorney General. This communication served not only as a legal notification but also as a sharp indictment of the government’s response to a previous demonstration held on July 17. Titled “Lead or Leave—Enough is Enough,” the planned protest is framed as a direct and necessary consequence of the government’s perceived “silence and inaction” following the July demonstration.
The coalition’s letter delivers an accusation against President Joseph Boakai, alleging that he “mock[ed], demean[ed], and dismiss[ed] the legitimate voices of thousands of peaceful citizens” instead of engaging with their grievances. Central to the dispute are the unmet demands from the July protest, which were detailed in a 13-count petition. The key grievances include a fundamental lack of respect for the rule of law and an end to systemic corruption and impunity.
The petition also demands concrete guarantees for constitutional freedoms, specifically the freedom of movement and protection against torture and arbitrary arrest by state security forces. Furthermore, the groups call for a decisive and effective national response to twin crises: the proliferation of illicit drugs and an epidemic of gender-based violence.
Finally, the coalition emphasizes the need for meaningful socio-economic reforms designed to alleviate the widespread poverty that afflicts a majority of Liberians.
The coalition argues that the national situation has deteriorated significantly since their July protest. They cite the U.S. Department of State’s 2024 Human Rights Report on Liberia as credible, external validation of their claims. The letter points to the report’s documentation of “egregious police abuses, including extrajudicial killings, torture, corruption, and arbitrary detentions” to bolster its case against the government.
In a particularly sharp critique, the coalition highlights what it describes as “entrenched impunity and selective justice” within the Boakai administration, pointing to specific, high-profile cases. The letter alleges that Minister Bryant McGill evades prosecution for serious offenses while being shielded by the police apparatus. It further accuses businessman George Kailondo of facing no consequences for grave drug trafficking allegations, implying his government connections grant him immunity.
