The National Executive Council of the CDC-Council of Patriots (CDC-CoP) has expressed grave concerns following the release of the 2024 Human Rights Situation Report by the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR). The report highlights a marked deterioration in Liberia’s human rights landscape under the Boakai-Koung administration, reinforcing the CDC-CoP’s long-held position that the country has devolved into a hub of 319 mysterious deaths, rampant police brutality, ritualistic killings, domestic violence, state-sponsored torture, and alarming human rights abuses.
According to the INCHR findings, the situation in Liberia has worsened significantly, with the prevalence of dead bodies rising alarmingly under President Boakai. The report paints a stark picture of escalating police brutality, rampant sexual violence, inhumane prison conditions, enforced disappearances, mob violence, and the suppression of free speech—contrasting sharply with the progress made during the administration of former President George Weah, who emphasized the importance of human rights and the rule of law.
The CDC-CoP criticized the current administration for prioritizing the killing of motorcyclists over the protection of property and citizens. Under President Weah, Liberia experienced a strengthened human rights framework, a decrease in police brutality, and improved access to justice, particularly for marginalized groups. The previous administration took significant steps to decongest prisons, uphold due process, and ensure law enforcement operated within the bounds of human rights principles.
In stark contrast, the Boakai administration has fostered an environment where Liberians live in fear as human rights violations go unchecked. Reports indicate that the Executive Mansion is shielding individuals such as Gregory Coleman, Prince C. Johnson, and Sam Gaye, who are allegedly involved in these abuses. The INCHR’s findings on enforced disappearances, ritualistic killings, and prolonged pretrial detention reflect a troubling erosion of the fundamental freedoms and protections that every Liberian deserves.
The CDC-CoP is calling on President Boakai to take immediate and decisive action to halt this downward spiral. Their demands include:
- Holding state security forces accountable for incidents of police brutality and unlawful killings.
- Ensuring the safety of women and children by addressing the alarming rise in rape and gender-based violence.
- Reforming Liberia’s justice system to resolve issues related to prolonged pretrial detention and inhumane prison conditions, while avoiding the politicization of the courts.
- Reaffirming a commitment to free speech and democratic freedoms, ensuring that journalists and political activists are protected from oppression.
The recent tragic incident involving police officer Boimah Massalay, who shot 17-year-old Favor and fled the scene, underscores the urgency of these issues. The CDC-CoP believes that the INCHR’s findings should serve as a wake-up call for the Boakai-Koung administration to prioritize the interests of the people above political expediency, warning of potential political consequences should the public rise in protest.
While the Weah administration faced challenges, it says Liberia stood as a beacon of human rights, free speech, and the rule of law in West Africa. However, under Mr. Boakai’s leadership, CDC-CoP says the nation is in crisis, with all sectors experiencing chronic instability. Liberia’s legacy as a peaceful nation is at risk of annihilation.
The CDC-CoP says it remains steadfast in its commitment to the people of Liberia, advocating for justice, accountability, and the restoration of human rights protections.
