By Kabs Kanu
Liberia continues to win high praises and profound respect for having become a more civilized nation than Sierra Leone in the political sphere.
Whereas Sierra Leone is wallowing in extreme political suppression and backward and bush politics under the oppressive, blood-shedding and impunity – laced President Maada Bio, with an unprecedented intolerance for human rights, freedom of assembly, freedom of expression and the exercise of the rights of the people, Liberia has surged far ahead in civilized politics.
Now, Liberians can stage mass protests, public sit-ins, boycotts and loud demonstrations against their governments and nobody is beaten, chased or killed, unlike Sierra Leone where it has become very dangerous to protest against their governments under President Maada Bio who does not bat an eyelid to send police and army into the streets to shot and kill innocent protesters.
Since Maada Bio came to power in 2018, over one hundred Sierra Leoneans, including prison inmates and corrections officers have been slaughtered with impunity by President Bio’s unfeeling and conscienceless security forces for protesting against their government.
In Liberia yesterday, there was another mass protest against President Joseph Boakai’s Unity Party government, and President Boakai’s police forces were shown on video footages aiding the demonstrators and even directing their paths. No a spot of blood was spilled. There was no shooting, no beating or killing of protesters and the demonstration ended peacefully. If it had been Sierra Leone, many mothers and fathers would have been mourning their slain children this morning.
Since the war ended, Liberians have staged different protests during the tenures of previous presidents Ellen Johnson- Sirleaf and George Weah and all went on successfully without any violent attacks and killings from the security forces. During the Weah era, the protest was even bigger but police and fire trucks were on the streets aiding demonstrators and providing them water to drink in the stifling heat.
A Liberian citizen journalist, Mr. Moses Swen, wrote the following in the social media: “Without any iota of doubt, the Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Republic of Liberia Hon. Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, the Inspector General of the Liberia National Police, Col Gregory Coleman and the Joint Security of Liberia exhibited a high degree of professionalism that led to the overall success of the July 17 protest staged by Mulbah Morlu’s STAND.
”I want to be categorical and unwavering that the tolerance level shown by the Liberia National Police and the Joint Security of Liberia is highly unprecedented. Amid glaring provocations they remained focused on Serving and Protecting the Constitution and Laws of Liberia.
“Kudos to Hon. Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh, Col Gregory Coleman and the Joint Security of Liberia, history has recorded you positively. Continue to serve your country and its people with loyalty and patriotism. “MOSES SWEN
Sierra Leoneans on social media used the opportunity to highlight the pitiful and tragic state of affairs in their country and lamented the fact that Liberia has become more civilized than Sierra Leone in the practice of national politics. “In Sierra Leone, President Maada Bio will kill you like a dog if you demonstrate against him and nothing will come out of it,” Samuel Conteh lamented. “
A LIBERIAN MEDIA REPORT ON THE DEMONSTRATION
Morlu and Acarous Gray Lead “Enough is Enough” Protest in Monrovia
By Mark Matthew | Our Story Liberia
Monrovia – On Wednesday, July 17, thousands of Liberians marched in the streets of Monrovia in a protest called “Enough is Enough.” The protest was led by opposition leaders including Mulbah Morlu, Executive Director of STAND; and former Montserrado District #8 Representative, Moses Acarous Gray. They say the Boakai-Koung government is making life worse for ordinary Liberians.
The protesters said prices are going up, jobs are hard to find, and the promises made by President Joseph Boakai during his campaign have not been fulfilled.
“President Boakai said he was coming to rescue us,” said Morlu. “But what we are seeing now is not a rescue — it’s more suffering.”
The protest started at Vamoma House in Sinkor and moved through Tubman Boulevard before ending at the CDC headquarters in Congo Town. Many people wore red and black clothing, held signs, and chanted things like “We’re tired of lies,” and “Where is the rescue?”
Former lawmaker Acarous Gray said the government is staying silent while people suffer. “You can’t promise heaven and give people hell,” he said. “Civil servants are being ignored, and the poor are being overtaxed.”
Some of the signs carried by protesters read:
“Boakai’s rescue is a rescal”
“No electricity, no jobs, no hope”
“We demand accountability now!”
The protesters said this is just the beginning of more actions they will take to push the government to fix the economy.
Many people in the crowd shared stories of hardship. One young mother, Sarah Nyumah from Paynesville, said, “We wake up and can’t afford rice. The only thing growing is the president’s motorcade and government payroll.”
The Boakai-Koung administration has not officially responded to the protest. However, sources from the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism said the protest is just a “distraction” and that the government is working on its plans to improve the country.
Still, the protesters remain firm. “We will not be silent while our people suffer,” said Morlu. “If things don’t change, we’ll continue taking to the streets.”
The July 17 protest was one of the biggest public actions against the Boakai-Koung administration since it took office in January 2024. With the economy still struggling, many believe more protests may come in the months ahead.
