By Rufus Divine Brooks Jr.
Contributor
Monrovia, Liberia – A coalition of civil society organizations under the banner ‘Enough is Enough’ has announced plans for what it describes as a “final showdown” protest, set for December 17, 2025. The demonstration, which will be staged near the grounds of the Executive Mansion, aims to pressure President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to either “lead or leave,” citing growing discontent over governance failures, economic hardship, and rampant human rights abuses.
The coalition is spearheaded by Solidarity & Trust for a New Day (STAND) and the We The People Movement. According to its leaders, the upcoming protest is fueled in part by the 2024 U.S. State Department’s Human Rights Report on Liberia, which they describe as a damning indictment of the Boakai administration.
Addressing reporters in Monrovia over the weekend, STAND Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu Jr. welcomed the U.S. report, saying it “confirms the persistence of human rights abuses, entrenched corruption, and systemic violations of basic freedoms under the current leadership.”
“The report offers a grave verdict on Liberia’s deteriorating human rights conditions and shows no significant progress has been made since President Boakai took office,” Morlu said.
The coalition argues that these findings reflect more than just administrative missteps; they see them as a “moral indictment” of Boakai’s so-called Rescue Agenda, which they claim has failed to address Liberia’s entrenched culture of impunity.
Among the coalition’s specific grievances is the President’s recent state visit to Japan, which they described as wasteful at a time when “prices are soaring and hospitals are collapsing.” They criticized Boakai for what they called hypocrisy ~ highlighting his previous criticisms of extravagant foreign travel during past administrations.
“Liberians are suffering from rising prices, unemployment, and a failing healthcare system. Yet millions of taxpayer dollars were wasted on a foreign junket that brought no tangible results,” a coalition statement read.
The coalition also condemned the Liberia National Police (LNP), led by Inspector General Gregory Coleman, for alleged human rights violations highlighted in the U.S. report. They have called for Coleman’s immediate dismissal.
According to the protest organizers, the report paints a bleak picture of Liberia under Boakai’s watch ~ alleging extrajudicial killings, arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, media censorship, torture, and systemic gender-based violence.
“These abuses are not isolated,” said Morlu. “They point to a government machinery deeply rooted in corruption, lawlessness, and injustice.”
In a more alarming accusation, the coalition cited statements from officials within the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and the Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), alleging the involvement of high-ranking government officials in the illicit drug trade. They are calling for an independent, internationally monitored investigation into these claims.
The coalition also claims that the Boakai government has failed to address demands raised during their previous July 17 protest. As a result, they say, Phase II of their nonviolent mass action will go forward.
Unlike the July protest, the December 17 demonstration will be held directly around the Executive Mansion, which the coalition insists remains public property and open to peaceful assembly.
A stern warning was issued to the government’s security forces: “This movement will not bow, break, or bend until the Boakai government leads or leaves.”
To coordinate the protest, a 15-member Citizens Engagement Board (CEB) has been established. The board comprises representatives from all 15 counties and is tasked with mobilizing support and gathering feedback from various societal groups, including religious and traditional leaders, students, political parties, and media.
Organizers describe the December protest as a “nonviolent revolution” and say they will launch a series of disruptive civil actions in the lead-up to the demonstration. These actions, they assert, are intended to defend democratic values and civil liberties in Liberia.
“This is not just a protest. It is a sustained campaign to restore accountability, justice, and respect for the rights of ordinary Liberians,” the coalition concluded.
