Political tensions have intensified sharply following a targeted arson attack on the headquarters of the Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), causing nearly USD 40,000 in verified damages. The incident comes just days before the movement’s planned December 17 protest, during which STAND leader Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr. is calling on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to “lead or leave.” The organization says the attack marks a dangerous escalation in intimidation tactics against political opponents.
According to STAND’s Emergency Assessment Team, the fire destroyed essential operational assets, including computers, printers, air conditioners, a 10kVA generator, office furniture, stationery, protest funds, and 1,200 mobilization T‑shirts. The total estimated loss of USD 37,920 has significantly disrupted logistical preparations for the upcoming protest. STAND officials say the timing and nature of the attack leave “no doubt that this was a politically motivated effort to cripple the protest machinery.”
Beyond the material losses, STAND reports that the arson has heightened threats already facing members of its Executive Committee both in Liberia and abroad. The group cites direct threats to the lives, properties, and families of its leaders, raising concerns about what it describes as an orchestrated campaign to silence dissent.
Those affected include National Protest Director Titus B. Pakalah, Chief Spokesperson Isaac Jackson, Head of Secretariat George S. Tengbeh, and International Media and Publicity Head Togar Alexander Bealded, along with officers responsible for logistics, cyber operations, mobilization, women’s affairs, youth engagement, and diaspora coordination.
Morlu condemned the attack as “a direct assault on democracy and the will of the Liberian people,” insisting the movement remains undeterred. “We will not be intimidated. No fire, no threat, and no abuse of power will suppress the December 17 voice of the Liberian masses. Liberia belongs to its people, not to those who believe power means persecution,” he said.
STAND argues that the arson fits into a broader pattern of political intimidation under the Boakai administration. The group referenced previous incidents, including the fatal shooting of a young man under the command of Inspector General Gregory Coleman and a Capitol Hill standoff in which their formal complaint allegedly received no response. “These incidents reflect a justice system compromised by selective enforcement and a government increasingly reliant on coercion,” the statement said.
The organization also reiterated allegations that the administration paid the Liberia Council of Churches USD 25,000 to issue a politically influenced statement—an accusation the Council has not publicly addressed. STAND says such alleged institutional interference deepens public mistrust and signals efforts to undermine opposition voices.
In response to the escalating threats, STAND has convened a National Emergency Meeting to review security protocols and recalibrate mobilization plans for the December 17 protest. Despite the attack, the group insists the protest will proceed nationwide as scheduled. “The arson has strengthened, not weakened, our resolve,” the movement said.
STAND also criticized the silence of prominent national figures, including Alexander B. Cummings, Benoni Urey, former President George Weah, and Musa Bility. Morlu described their silence as “concerning at a defining moment in Liberia’s democratic struggle,” urging them to speak out as threats against political actors intensify.
The group has issued an urgent appeal to ECOWAS, the African Union, the United Nations, the U.S. Government, the European Union, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and other global democratic institutions to monitor the situation closely. STAND warns that Liberia is “on the brink of political escalation,” citing targeted attacks, intimidation, and mounting threats against its leadership and their families.
“With nearly USD 40,000 lost to arson and lives now under threat, Liberia requires immediate and serious international attention,” Morlu said. “The coming days will determine whether the country moves toward accountability and peace or slides deeper into intimidation and instability.”
As the December 17 protest approaches, concerns continue to grow over the safety of opposition actors and the broader implications for Liberia’s democratic trajectory.
