MONROVIA – The Revolutionary National Youth League of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has unleashed a blistering attack on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the Liberia National Police (LNP), declaring both as “enemies of the state” and calling for mass citizen action across communities in retaliation for what it calls politically motivated repression of opposition leaders.
In a fiery press statement released over the weekend, the CDC Youth League condemned the recent arrest of CDC National Chairman Janga Augustus Kowo and the detention of former House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, along with several other opposition lawmakers, who are currently facing prosecution over the December 2024 Capitol fire that caused an estimated $8.6 million in damages.
“The arbitrary arrest of Chairman Janga Kowo and the illegal incarceration of Speaker Fonati Koffa are nothing but acts of tyranny orchestrated by Mr. Boakai and carried out by his lapdogs in the Liberia National Police,” the Youth League said. “These actions are not rooted in justice but in a calculated political plot to silence dissent and dismantle the CDC.”
The statement did not stop there. In language that has sparked alarm among civil society groups and political observers, the Youth League called for a direct response from its supporters, encouraging them to “reciprocate” the alleged attacks by targeting the homes of police officers and government officials allied with the ruling Unity Party.
“We declare today that the Liberia National Police and Mr. Boakai are enemies of the state. These so-called officers of the law, who follow the undemocratic commands of a failing president, must know their families live in our communities—and they will feel the weight of our justified rage,” the statement warned.
The Youth League further described President Boakai as “a tyrant who has clothed himself in the garments of dictatorship,” claiming that Liberia’s history is unforgiving to leaders who abuse state power to muzzle opposition voices.
“Let it be known,” the statement continued, “that President Boakai will become a shining example of how the Liberian people bring tyrants to their knees and leave them to rot in the consequences of their actions.”
The inflammatory rhetoric comes amid escalating political tension following the arrest of several members of the so-called “majority bloc” in the Legislature. They were charged last week with arson, criminal mischief, and attempted murder after an LNP investigation accused them of masterminding the December fire that engulfed sections of the Capitol Building during a leadership dispute.
The arrests have sparked protests in parts of Monrovia, with CDC supporters staging demonstrations near the Monrovia Central Prison where their leaders are being held. But the latest call from the Youth League for mass community-based retaliation marks a dramatic escalation in political hostilities.
Security analysts and civil society actors have raised serious concerns over the Youth League’s language, warning that the incitement to identify and potentially target the homes of law enforcement officers and ruling party officials could plunge the country into unrest.
“This statement is deeply troubling and borders on incitement to violence,” said Samuel Toe, a political science lecturer at the University of Liberia. “No matter the political grievance, threatening families of officers and invoking vigilante justice undermines the rule of law and puts innocent civilians at risk.”
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice has yet to respond to the Youth League’s threats. However, sources within the security sector say additional forces have been deployed in Monrovia and its surrounding communities to prevent possible outbreaks of violence.
The Executive Mansion and the Liberia National Police also remained silent as of Sunday evening.
Calls for mass civil disobedience by the CDC Youth League come at a delicate moment for President Boakai’s administration, which is already facing mounting scrutiny over its handling of the Capitol fire investigation, the controversial ratification of the 2025 national budget, and growing fears of political witch-hunts.
Despite the backlash, the Youth League remains defiant. “We are not afraid. We will organize, we will mobilize, and we will resist,” the statement noted.
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