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By Staff Writer
The Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), a rapidly rising political party in Liberia, has strongly denounced Thursday’s violent confrontation in the Red Light–Barclay Mission area, warning that the country is drifting toward widespread lawlessness and a dangerous disregard for state authority.
The party said the disorder that broke out during the enforcement of a Supreme Court eviction order is no longer a simple neighborhood dispute but a national warning that Liberia’s respect for the rule of law is weakening.
In a statement released Friday, CMC expressed alarm over what it sees as a troubling pattern of citizens resisting lawful court decisions, saying such behavior poses a serious threat to the country’s democratic stability and justice system. The violence began when sheriffs and Liberia National Police officers attempted to carry out a court-ordered eviction of the Kamara family after the Supreme Court ruled that the Keita family legally owns the contested property.
Their arrival triggered hours of unrest. Residents hurled rocks, bottles, and petrol bombs at police, who responded with rounds of teargas before regaining control and arresting fourteen individuals. CMC described the violence as reckless and unacceptable, stressing that no group or individual has the authority to overturn a court ruling through mob action. The party warned that Liberia cannot allow communities to pick which court decisions they will follow, as such a precedent would erode the foundations of the justice system.
CMC also criticized the Liberia National Police for failing to protect individuals who were assaulted during the chaos, even after being taken into custody. The party reminded the police that their responsibility extends beyond arresting people; once someone is in police hands, the LNP is fully accountable for their safety. CMC called on the police leadership to correct these failures immediately.
The Red Light confrontation is the latest flare-up in a land dispute dating back to 1989, when Batune Keita purchased the property at the center of the conflict. The Supreme Court ruled in August that the Kamara family had unlawfully occupied the land and collected rent, but the family has rejected the decision, alleging judicial interference and an improper survey. This divide has fueled tension within the Barclay Mission community, ultimately boiling over into Thursday’s violent clash.
CMC argued that the real danger lies not in the land fight itself, but in the growing mistrust of national institutions that the incident has exposed. The party cautioned Liberians against turning legal disputes into tribal or political battles, saying that such framing only deepens division and weakens state authority. A court decision, the party noted, is not an attack on any tribe or group.
Calling for restraint, CMC urged residents, youth, traditional leaders, and religious figures to help reduce tensions and restore calm. At the same time, the party made it clear that the Red Light incident reflects a void in national leadership—one it intends to fill. CMC chairman James M. Y. Yougie reminded the public that Liberia’s future depends on collective respect for the law and equal justice, warning that the country’s unity is at stake.
As the dust settles and the community recovers from teargas and tension, CMC’s message remains unmistakable: Liberia must reaffirm its commitment to the rule of law or risk descending into a cycle where violence, rather than justice, decides the fate of disputes.
