Monrovia, Liberia – Tensions escalated on Capitol Hill Tuesday, December 17, 2024, as police fired tear gas to disperse protesters gathered to denounce what they termed the unconstitutional removal of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and alleged violations of Liberian laws by the government.
The demonstration, which saw participants chanting slogans and holding placards, quickly turned chaotic when security forces arrived to enforce a dispersal order. Protesters claim their assembly was peaceful, though the situation reportedly deteriorated into a standoff when some demonstrators began throwing stones.
Local media outlets reported the alleged use of live bullets by security forces, causing widespread alarm. However, Information Minister Jerolinmek Piah vehemently denied these claims, stating that police only used tear gas to disperse the crowd. He attributed the police action to the protestors’ failure to secure approval from the Ministry of Justice.
“The government will not tolerate protest actions without the permission of the Ministry of Justice,” Minister Piah said, reinforcing the administration’s stance on regulating public demonstrations.
Critics have repeatedly pointed to Article 17 of the Liberian Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly. The article states, “All persons, at all times, in an orderly and peaceable manner, shall have the right to assemble and consult upon the common good.” This provision from one administration to another has fueled public debate over whether the government’s insistence on Ministry of Justice approval aligns with constitutional protections.
One of the protest organizers, former Grand Bassa County Superintendent Janjay Baikpeh of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change, condemned the police response. Meanwhile, lawmakers backing the embattled speaker, including Representatives Yekeh Kolubah and Frank Saah Foko of Montserrado County Districts 10 and 9, who escaped the scene, voiced concerns over the use of force by state security.
Speaker Koffa, in a Facebook post, weighed in on the situation, emphasizing the importance of peaceful resolution. “The right of citizens to peacefully assemble is cardinal,” Koffa said. “The use of force cannot be callous. Peace is better than war, because life is better than death.”
OK FM can confirm that one protester sustained injuries during the incident, though the cause remains unverified. An elderly woman and a journalist were also affected by the tear gas deployed by police, forcing protesters, including their leaders, to flee the scene.
At the same time, former aide to ex-president George, Sekou Kalasco, along with several others involved with Tuesday’s protest, were arrested, charged, and forwarded to the Monrovia Central Prison.
With charges of rioting, failure to disperse, obstructing highways and other passages, physical obstruction of government functions, aggravated assault, criminal mischief, theft of property, and disorderly conduct, those accused will spend their first night in prison.
The unfolding events have sparked widespread public and political debate, as concerns grow over the balance between maintaining public order and upholding constitutional rights.
This is a developing story, and OK FM will provide updates as more details emerge.
Joseph Daniels reports for OK FM Liberia as Executive Mansion Correspondent. With a vested interest in making the voices of people from different walks of life heard, he has covered investigative stories relating to education, health, the environment, corruption, and violence against women and girls, among others. He graduated from the United Methodist University with a Bachelor of Art Degree in Mass Communications in 2020. Joseph is also a fellow at New Narratives, a non-profit organization helping media deliver independent, truthful information to its people so they can make informed decisions.
