Parts of central Monrovia descended into chaos Wednesday when protesters under the banner of Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND) clashed with officers of the Liberia National Police (LNP) while attempting to march on the Executive Mansion to present a petition to President Joseph Boakai.
The demonstration, led by STAND Chairman Mulbah Morlu, drew hundreds of participants demanding answers from the Boakai administration on issues they say range from corruption and bad governance to worsening economic conditions, alleged human rights violations, and what they described as growing nepotism within the Unity Party‑led government.
Witnesses said President Boakai had arrived at the Executive Mansion earlier in the day but departed before the protesters reached the vicinity. The Executive Mansion, which shares grounds with the Capitol Building and the Temple of Justice, is among the most heavily secured areas in the country.
Protesters carried placards with messages accusing the administration of mismanagement and misplaced priorities. Some signs alleged that the President was constructing a multimillion‑dollar residence in Lofa County, poor governance and economic hardship.
“Things are hard even though President Boakai promised to rescue us. But Boakai fooled us,” said protester Marie Gibson, who complained that declining business activity had forced many parents to keep their children out of school.
Another protester, Theo Wilson, criticized what he described as a lack of transparency in government procurement processes. “The Boakai administration is operating in secrecy. This raises serious suspicion and leaves citizens with no alternative but to speculate,” he said. Wilson referenced the government’s planned acquisition of heavy‑duty equipment, arguing that the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission (PPCC) procedures should have been followed to prevent potential misuse of public funds.
Despite earlier announcements that they intended to deliver their petition directly to the President on the Executive Mansion grounds, protesters were stopped by LNP officers who formed barricades and denied them access. Tensions escalated when police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd. Several protesters were arrested during the confrontation.
By late afternoon, STAND had not succeeded in presenting its petition, with organizers saying the level of force used by police made it impossible to proceed. Police applied force to drive protestors off the streets, fired teargas and made arrested some people.
The LNP has not yet issued a statement on the incident, and the Executive Mansion has also remained silent on the protest and the allegations raised.
