By Sidiki Fofana |Truth in Ink
In just over a month, Liberia could find itself at a political crossroads and what might be the greatest test to its democracy since the June 7, 2019 protest.
On July 17, 2025, the “Enough is Enough” protest, organized by Mulbah Morlu’s Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) movement in collaboration with the We the People Movement, is set to take to the streets, cities , towns and villages of the country. Its message is clear: growing discontent over corruption, the rule of law, deteriorating economic conditions, and the Boakai administration’s perceived inability to fulfill its promises of good governance.
Recent surveys, such as the Closing Argument poll, show that momentum is building across the country. Yet the most urgent question today is not whether the protest will happen or succeed, rather: how will President Joseph Boakai respond?
Already leaders of the protest have reported harassment and intimidation which they vowed will not deterred them . And so, this moment could define not only Boakai’s presidency, but the future trajectory of Liberia’s democracy.
Liberia’s political history is littered with examples of both brutal repression and enlightened restraint in the face of public dissent.
Taylor’s Era (1997–2003): Repression and Ruin
Charles Taylor met protests with violence and fear. In 2001, when University of Liberia students protested rampant corruption, Taylor’s security forces opened fire. His chilling declaration still echoes:
“We will not tolerate street anarchy. Those who want to protest should know there are consequences.” President Charles Taylor, 2001 (BBC News)
The result: escalating internal rebellion, deepening international isolation, and a country spiraling toward war.
Weah’s Era (2018–2023): Dialogue and Restraint
In contrast, George Weah’s government chose a path of tolerance during the landmark June 7, 2019 “Save the State” protest, one of the largest in postwar Liberia. Weah publicly embraced freedom of expression:
“I will always stand by free speech and peaceful assembly.” President George Weah, 2019.
Police were ordered to protect, not suppress, the demonstrators. No blood was shed. No mass arrests were made. ECOWAS observers later praised the government’s handling of the protest.
Weah also signed the Abdullah Kamara Press Freedom Act, which abolished sedition laws, ensuring legal space for dissent.
The Ghost of Kanjor: Troubling Signs Under Boakai
While candidate Boakai promised to govern with respect for human rights and democratic values, President Boakai’s recent actions suggest otherwise.
In Kanjor, Grand Cape Mount County, peaceful residents protesting alleged land grabbing by foreign firms, with reported government collusion, were brutally dispersed. Liberia National Police (LNP), backed by paramilitary units, used tear gas and batons. A protester was reporter killed, several community leaders were arrested without due process. Journalists faced intimidation, with some having their equipment seized.
Such actions have already tainted Boakai’s early human rights record, and have deepened public skepticism about his administration’s commitment to democratic principles.
Government Threats: A Dangerous Tone
In recent weeks, official government statements have further fanned fears of repression ahead of the July 17 protest: Ministry of Justice Press Release (May 2025)
Declared that any protest lacking explicit government approval would be considered illegal. Warned organizers of criminal prosecution and open threat of arrest.
Liberia National Police Press Release And Threat of Invoking the Arm Forces of Liberia (June 9, 2025)
Echoed a hardline stance, calling unauthorized gatherings unlawful and confirming that joint operations with the AFL were “being considered” in case of escalation. The referenced invoking the AFL is a vague phrase easily weaponized to justify force.
A Stark International Irony
The irony of this moment is impossible to ignore. Just weeks ago, Liberia proudly secured a seat as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council—an honor that carries the responsibility of promoting global peace, upholding human rights, and fostering democratic governance.
The world will now be watching to see if Liberia’s own government honors these principles at home. It would be a profound contradiction for the Boakai administration to deploy armed force against peaceful protesters while sitting on the very council tasked with protecting those same rights.
History offers a cautionary example: Niger, a former non-permanent member of the Security Council, was relieved of its seat in 2023 after international condemnation of its deteriorating human rights record following a military coup and the suppression of dissent. (United Nations Security Council Report, 2023)
Boakai’s government now faces a similar test, not only before its own people, but before the international community.
Morlu’s Response: A Call for Courage Protest leader Mulbah Morlu was quick to respond:
“We won’t ask permission to protest—it’s our right. If Boakai wants to make the mistake Taylor made, history will judge him.”
Morlu has call the attention of international stakeholders, including the U.S. Mission, the European Union, and human rights organizations, to monitor the situation closely.
The Stakes for Boakai: Democracy or Regression?
As President Boakai faces this defining moment, he stands at a critical fork in the road:
- Embrace Dialogue: Like George Weah in 2019, he can allow peaceful dissent, preserving the fragile gains of Liberia’s postwar democracy.
- Resort to Force: Like Charles Taylor, he can meet public frustration with repression—risking unrest, international condemnation, and domestic instability.
Boakai’s choice is not simply about political optics. It is about Liberia’s democratic soul.
Leaders who crush protests often sow seeds of lasting division. Those who listen, even in the face of sharp criticism, build enduring trust.
Liberia’s progress since the civil war has rested on a delicate but invaluable culture of free expression and peaceful assembly. Threatening military force against unarmed protesters would endanger this hard-won progress, and risk staining Boakai’s presidency.
The July 17 “Enough is Enough” protest is more than a day of public demonstration. It is a test of Joseph Boakai’s leadership, and of Liberia’s democratic resilience.
He can choose to be remembered in the mold of George Weah during June 7: calm, tolerant, protective of constitutional rights.
Or he can risk awakening the ghosts of Charles Taylor: intolerant, repressive, and willing to crush dissent.
History, and the Liberian people, will not forget the choice he makes.
As the nation holds its breath, the world watches. Will Boakai rise to the occasion, or falter under the weight of Liberia’s troubled past?
