—Citing Human Rights Abuses, Corruption, and Government Inaction
Monrovia, Liberia – August 16, 2025 – The Enough is Enough Protest Coalition, led by the Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND) and the We the People Movement, has announced what it calls the “final showdown”—a nationwide mass protest scheduled for December 17, 2025. The organizers say the demonstration, themed “Boakai Must Lead or Leave,” will represent the next phase of their nonviolent resistance against what they describe as the Boakai administration’s failure to address corruption, human rights abuses, and worsening economic hardship.
The declaration follows the release of the U.S. State Department’s 2024 Human Rights Report on Liberia, which documented a litany of abuses ranging from extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, and prolonged pre-trial detentions to censorship, torture, inhumane treatment, rampant gender-based violence, and entrenched corruption. The report concluded bluntly that Liberia has made “no significant change” in human rights and governance under President Joseph Boakai’s first year in office.
“A Moral Indictment of the Rescue Agenda”
According to STAND, the U.S. report validates the coalition’s long-standing claims that the Boakai administration has failed the Liberian people. Coalition leaders argue that the President’s much-touted Rescue Agenda has proven hollow, offering neither relief from economic suffering nor protection of fundamental freedoms.
“While prices soar and hospitals collapse, President Boakai squanders taxpayer dollars on bloated foreign trips,” the statement reads. “The same man who once criticized wasteful spending now indulges in reckless entourage travel, abandoning the people to poverty, unemployment, and hunger.”
The coalition specifically cited President Boakai’s recent trip to Japan with an entourage reported at 23 to 40 people, which it described as “extravagant and unnecessary” at a time when ordinary Liberians struggle to buy rice and basic medicines.
Calls for Accountability in the Security Sector
STAND has also placed the Liberia National Police (LNP) under scrutiny, referencing the U.S. report’s findings that accused the force, under Inspector General Gregory Coleman, of widespread abuses. Protest leaders demand Coleman’s immediate dismissal, saying his continued leadership undermines credibility and public trust in law enforcement.
“The violations are too severe to ignore,” the coalition stated. “From arbitrary arrests to excessive force, the LNP has become a tool of repression rather than protection. Removing Inspector General Coleman is the first step in restoring integrity.”
Drug Trafficking Allegations Deepen Crisis
Beyond human rights abuses, the coalition expressed alarm over allegations made by senior officials of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), which suggest that some government officials are directly complicit in the drug trade. The coalition denounced this as “hypocrisy of the highest order,” pointing to the same officials’ participation in public anti-drug campaigns.
“These allegations demand nothing short of an independent, transparent, internationally monitored investigation,” the coalition emphasized, linking the issue to Liberia’s obligations under the U.N. Convention Against Corruption and ECOWAS protocols.
Constitutional Violations and International Obligations
The Enough is Enough Coalition accused the administration of violating both domestic and international law. Protest leaders say the abuses highlighted in the U.S. report directly contravene: Articles 6 and 7 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) Articles 4, 5, 6, and 9 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights Articles 11, 15, and 20 of the Constitution of Liberia
“These provisions guarantee life, liberty, freedom of expression, due process, and human dignity,” the coalition said. “Their violation is not only unlawful but an outright assault on justice and democracy.”
December 17 Protest to Target Executive Mansion
Unlike the July 17 protest, which spread across Monrovia, organizers say the December 17 action will take place directly around the Executive Mansion, the seat of presidential power. The coalition emphasized that the mansion grounds are public space and vowed that any attempt by security forces to block peaceful citizens would be “futile.”
“This movement will not bow, break, or bend until the Boakai government either leads with integrity or leaves in disgrace,” the coalition declared.
Citizens Engagement Board to Drive Mobilization
To ensure national participation, STAND and its partners announced the creation of a 15-member Citizens Engagement Board (CEB), with representation from all 15 counties. The CEB will spend the next 30 days engaging citizens nationwide—including traditional and religious leaders, civil society organizations, student groups, political parties, media institutions, and vulnerable communities.
At the end of this outreach, the CEB will present a report guiding the December protests and outlining a framework for sustained, coordinated actions.
Sustained Resistance Ahead of December
In the months leading up to December 17, STAND says it will launch a series of targeted nonviolent actions—including community protests, civil disobedience, and symbolic demonstrations—to maintain momentum. These actions will be disruptive but peaceful, designed to “exert relentless pressure on the authorities until fundamental freedoms and democratic norms are upheld.”
The coalition closed its statement with a stark warning: “Enough is enough. Liberia cannot continue under the weight of corruption, impunity, and abuse. December 17 will mark the people’s turning point—a nationwide wave of peaceful resistance reclaiming justice, dignity, and a future of accountability.”
The statement was signed by Mulbah K. Morlu Jr., Chairman of the STAND Protest Coalition.
