Editorial: Thursday’s violence was unfortunate  

Clashes between Police and persons believed to be partisans and supporters at the Headquarters of the former ruling Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) that reportedly led to injuries of both officers of the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency and party zealots was unfortunate, especially at a time when the President of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakia, had left the country to attend the 124^th National Black Business Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States.

News of the incident flooded news outlets here and abroad, including Social Media, even before the President and delegation arrived in the United States. This painted a wrong image of a country seizing every opportunity to attract direct foreign investments after democratic elections and a peaceful historic transition.

President Boakai, invited as a special guest, addressed the 124th National Black Business Conference held in Atlanta, Georgia, on Friday, August 23, 2024, presenting Liberia’s massive potential as a country ready to receive investors. But the event back home the day before the conference’s official opening left much to be desired.    

Images of riot police and stone-throwing protesters in a faceoff, disrupting regular traffic with the latter burning tyers in the street and erecting roadblocks, as the Police fired teargas canisters portrayed a scenario of insecurity and lawless that would give potential investors a second thought about where to put their money.

We Liberians are noted for shooting ourselves in the leg and then blaming everything else and everybody else but ourselves. We always want people to pity our condition and come to help after we have self-destructed. When will we learn a lesson?

Violence takes away a lot from a country and its people, as it disrupts economic activities, instills fear, and leads to destruction, injuries, and death.           

 Violence erupted early Thursday morning, August 22, 2024, after the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) raided alleged drug dealers in the Small-Town Community, which hosts the CDC headquarters. During the raid, some of the drug dealers allegedly fled inside the CDC  headquarters as LDEA officers chased them there.

Former President Weah, who did not condemn his supporters for throwing stones at law enforcement officers, expressed shock over police’s response and described the incident as a “threat to Liberia’s peace and security.”  Mr. Weah continued “… This is not good governance. We are a nation of rule and law. This needs to stop. We demand answers.” He questioned the ruling Unity Party-led administration’s ability to govern effectively.

While we agreed with the former President that such violence threatens peace and security, we think he did not demonstrate leadership as a former head of state. He failed to calm protesting supporters who threw stones at armed riot police.

Let it be made clear that the CDC headquarters is not and should not be used as a sanctuary for drug peddlers and abusers. Under the doctrine of hot pursuit, law enforcement officers do not have boundaries when they seek to bring violators to justice.

It is important that political leaders, whether in power or in opposition, see the security of the state as a collective responsibility and do everything to keep the peace of the nation they aspire to lead in the future rather than watching and wishing to see its downfall irrespective of who currently sits at the Executive Mansion.