Liberians Protest Against President Joseph Boakai’s Government, Demand Action on Governance and Accountability

Hundreds of Liberians marched through the streets of Monrovia on Thursday in a powerful protest against what they describe as worsening governance under President Joseph Boakai’s administration. The demonstration, organized by a newly formed civil society coalition called Solidarity Trust for a New Day (STAND), drew citizens from across the capital who united in demanding better leadership, transparency, and immediate government response to their grievances.

Protesters carried placards and chanted slogans as they converged on the city center, calling for either President Boakai or Vice President Jeremiah Koung to receive their petition, dubbed the “We The People” document. The petition outlines concerns over alleged poor governance practices, economic hardship, corruption, and lack of government responsiveness since Boakai assumed office in January 2024.

However, neither the president nor his deputy made an appearance to acknowledge the demonstrators, fueling further frustration among the crowd. STAND’s leader, Mulbah Morlu, who formerly served as chairman of ex-President George Weah’s Coalition for Democratic Change, criticized the administration’s silence and announced plans for continued demonstrations.

“We are hereby giving President Boakai fourteen days to publicly acknowledge and begin acting on the ‘We The People’ petition,” Morlu declared. He stated that if there is no response within the specified timeframe, protests would resume, potentially on a larger scale.

The protest reflects growing public discontent with the current administration, as Liberia continues to grapple with economic instability, rising inflation, and widespread unemployment. President Boakai came to power promising reform, anti-corruption efforts, and national renewal, but critics argue that tangible results have yet to be seen.

This development marks a significant challenge for the Boakai government as civil society and opposition voices intensify calls for accountability, social justice, and inclusive governance in Liberia.