Congo Town, Monrovia – Early Thursday morning, August 22, intense clashes erupted in Congo Town between supporters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Liberia National Police, causing significant disruption in the area. The conflict began when CDC partisans accused state security forces of encircling their headquarters at night, which led to exchanges of stones and tear gas.
The unrest persisted for nearly a day, resulting in arrests and of some CDC members despite interventions by House Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and some women’s groups. Top CDC officials, including former Monrovia Mayor and current Secretary General of the CDC Jefferson Koijee, criticized the Boakai administration for provoking their party members with frequent police presence near the party headquarters.
Former Mayor Koijee warned of a potential large-scale protest in response.
For his part, Frank Saah Foko, Representative of District nine Montserrado county stated that The Police provoked the situation at CDC HQ today and that the partisans couldn’t sit while they be “killed”.
In contrast, Government of Liberia (GOL) officials, including Minister of Information Jerolinmek M. Piah, refuted claims of police provocation. Piah asserted that the conflict stemmed from CDC partisans obstructing the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) from accessing the vicinity. Both state security forces and citizens sustained injuries, with those affected receiving treatment at JFK Hospital.
The day’s violence has instilled fear and drawn condemnation from the public, highlighting the urgent need for de-escalation and resolution between the conflicting parties.
By: Alphanso G. Kalama
