Liberia’s Political Turmoil Deepens as Opposition Accuses Boakai Administration of Bribery and Retaliation
Liberia’s political landscape has reached a boiling point as the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) leveled explosive allegations against the Boakai administration during a National Unification Day press conference on Thursday. The CDC accused the government of orchestrating a $275,000 bribe attempt to influence jurors in a high-profile corruption trial that ended with the acquittal of former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr.
Held at the CDC’s temporary headquarters in Sinkor’s Plumkor community, the event saw party leaders delivering a scathing indictment of the Unity Party-led government. CDC National Women’s League leader Mamasee Kaba read a statement alleging that Amos Tweh, Managing Director of the Liberia Petroleum Refining Corporation and Secretary General of the Unity Party, was the conduit for the bribe. The party further claimed that when the jury rejected the offer and acquitted Tweah, the administration launched a campaign of retaliation against the jurors.
“The Unity Party’s strategy relies on lies, propaganda, and attempts to bribe jurors,” Kaba declared. “Their goal was to tarnish reputations and convince Liberians that mere allegations equate to guilt.”
Retaliation and New Investigations
The CDC also accused the government of targeting jurors who voted to acquit Tweah, describing the move as a warning to future juries. “We have credible information that the regime has ordered harm against patriots who served as jurors,” the party stated. “This is a clear attempt to intimidate jurors into convicting CDC officials.”
The opposition linked these allegations to a series of new investigations against former officials of the Weah administration. Just five days after Tweah’s acquittal on May 8, the Asset Recovery and Property Retrieval Task Force (AREPT) summoned him for questioning over the alleged misuse of $20.5 million in rice subsidy funds. The CDC dismissed the investigation as politically motivated, calling it part of a broader campaign of persecution rather than a genuine anti-corruption effort.
“The failure to convict Tweah is not just a personal victory but a decisive unraveling of the Unity Party’s misinformation and political persecution,” the statement read.
Boakai’s Leadership Under Fire
The CDC’s rhetoric extended beyond the corruption trial, with party leaders launching a blistering critique of President Joseph Boakai’s leadership. Youth spokesperson Alvin Wesseh compared Boakai’s administration to Zimbabwe’s decline under Robert Mugabe, accusing the president of steering Liberia toward economic collapse and instability.
“Boakai is not guiding the nation but pushing it into anarchy,” Wesseh said. “Economic hardship is tightening its grip, plunging Liberia back into conditions reminiscent of wartime despair.”
In a stark rebuke of National Unification Day, Wesseh dismissed the holiday as meaningless under Boakai’s leadership. “Unification Day has been desecrated by the chief promoter of chaos and regional instability,” he declared.
The CDC also condemned the expulsion of opposition lawmaker Yekeh Kolubah from the legislature, calling it an assault on democratic norms. The party criticized Liberia’s involvement in Guinea’s internal affairs and accused the administration of undermining constitutional principles.
Declaring Non-Compliance
In a bold move, the CDC announced its intention to adopt a “non-compliant posture” to resist what it called the Boakai-Koung regime’s descent into authoritarianism. While the party did not specify what this would entail, Kaba warned that any government failing to meet the people’s democratic aspirations is destined to fail.
“Every revolution that ignores the will of the people is a failure,” she said. “A government that does not respond to its citizens’ needs has lost its legitimacy.”
Militant Month in Grand Gedeh
Amid the escalating political tension, the CDC announced plans to hold its annual “Militant Month” event in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, from June 23 to June 27, 2026. The event, coinciding with the party’s 22nd founding anniversary, will celebrate its history and reaffirm its commitment to democratic principles. The choice of Zwedru, a stronghold of former President George Weah, underscores the CDC’s intent to rally its base ahead of the 2029 elections.
Accusations Against Security Institutions
The CDC also accused Liberia’s security apparatus of suppressing dissent, singling out National Security Adviser Samuel Kofi Woods and Inspector General Gregory Coleman. The party alleged that the Liberia National Police has adopted heavy-handed tactics against peaceful protests and that the government treats Supreme Court rulings as optional.
“Under this administration, constitutional safeguards are treated as inconveniences,” the party stated.
The Unity Party has yet to respond to the CDC’s allegations. As Liberia’s political crisis deepens, the accusations underscore the growing polarization within the country’s leadership, raising concerns about the stability of its democratic institutions.
— Reported by Nexio News
