Published: May 11, 2026
MONROVIA — A prominent civil society organization announced Saturday the formation of a broad protest coalition and set July 17 as the date for a new nationwide demonstration, accusing the Boakai administration of failing ordinary Liberians on the economy, corruption, and basic governance.
Solidarity and Trust for a New Day, known as STAND, launched what it is calling the Save Liberia Protest Coalition at a rally on May 9, with Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu declaring that public patience with the government has run out.
“This movement is bigger than politics, bigger than tribe, bigger than county, bigger than coalition,” Morlu said. “This movement is Liberia crying for genuine rescue and not fake rescue.”
The coalition’s theme, “Lead or Leave,” signals a direct challenge to President Joseph Boakai, whose 2023 campaign was built on a promise to rescue Liberia from what his party characterized as the failures of the Weah administration.
Broken Promises, Morlu Says
Morlu told supporters the coalition was not organized around political ambition or partisan interest but around what he described as the urgent reality facing struggling Liberians.
“The Liberian people were promised rescue, but instead they received betrayal,” he said. “They were promised leadership, but what they are receiving today are excuses.”
He pointed to rising prices of rice, transportation, and basic commodities, alongside stagnant salaries and scarce employment, as evidence that the administration’s economic pledges have not materialized.
“Graduates are sitting home hopeless. Parents cannot feed their children. Business people are closing shops. Teachers are suffering. Health workers are exhausted,” Morlu said.
He cast the country as divided between those in power and those bearing the cost of their governance.
“The poor are tightening their belts, but the corrupt are loosening theirs,” he said. “The people are drowning while officials are swimming in luxury.”
Peaceful Resistance, He Stresses
Despite the sharp rhetoric, Morlu repeatedly emphasized that the coalition’s campaign would remain nonviolent.
“We are not calling for violence. We are not calling for destruction. We are not calling for chaos,” he said. “We are calling for peaceful resistance, sustained peaceful resistance, and relentless democratic resistance.”
He alleged that earlier protests organized by the movement were met with police intimidation and force, characterizing demonstrators as having been “treated like enemies” by law enforcement.
“Peaceful protesters were met with police brutality,” he alleged. “Voices of resistance were threatened.”
The government has previously defended its handling of demonstrations, maintaining that law enforcement actions are intended to preserve public order.
Broad Coalition Sought
Morlu called on students, civil society groups, opposition parties, religious leaders, traditional authorities, women’s organizations, and market women to join the Save Liberia coalition ahead of the July 17 action.
“We are peaceful people, but we are also tired people,” he said. “We are law-abiding people, but we are not blind people. We are patient people, but patience has limits.”
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