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Chanting “enough is enough,” hundreds of Liberians took to the streets of Monrovia on Thursday (17 July) in the largest protest since President Joseph Boakai took office last year.
Led by opposition figure Mulbah Morlu, demonstrators voiced growing anger over unfulfilled promises, job losses, and the government’s failure to establish a war crimes court. The protest was peaceful but charged with emotion. Businesswoman Victoria Roberts captured the mood: “How can you say that you came to better the lives of the people, but then you came and took people from jobs?” A central demand was justice for victims of Liberia’s brutal civil wars between 1989 and 2003. Protesters called for the creation of a long-promised war crimes tribunal. “The war crimes court should not be for Prince Johnson alone. ‘General Butt Naked’ needs to go to the war crimes court too,” said one protestor.
Protesters also criticized what they see as politically motivated dismissals and a lack of economic progress. “Liberians voted for Joseph Boakai because he has 40 years experience,” said protester Musu Dennis. “So he should start to use that 40 years experience for the Liberian people, not for him to come and put tension on the Liberian people.” The crowd marched toward the Executive Mansion to present a formal petition. Though no violence occurred, Monrovia’s streets were noticeably quieter, with many residents staying home amid tensions. As of Friday morning, President Boakai’s office had yet to issue a public response.
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