In a rousing address to hundreds of partisans and supporters gathered at a Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) rally on Friday, former President George Manneh Weah broke months of relative political silence to declare the CDC “alive” and ready to reclaim state power. The former president, ousted in the 2023 runoff by President Joseph Boakai in a tight contest, accused the ruling Unity Party-led government of failing the Liberian people and pledged a disciplined, peaceful return of his party to national leadership.
Weah, standing before a sea of blue at the party headquarters, launched a sharp critique of the Boakai administration, which he said rode into office on “false promises and deceptive slogans.” He accused the Unity Party of deepening poverty, eroding democratic norms, and turning a blind eye to legislative lawlessness, all while misusing security forces to suppress dissent. “They said we were the problem,” Weah told the cheering crowd, “but now the Liberian people can see for themselves, the real problem is the Unity Party that is now in power.”
Referencing his decision to peacefully concede the 2023 election, Weah said he chose the nation over personal ambition. “I chose peace over conflict. I chose the Constitution over chaos. I chose democracy over division,” he said. The former president cast himself and the CDC as patriots who put Liberia first, even in defeat, while accusing the current administration of betraying the people’s trust.
Declaring a new phase in the party’s future, Weah officially launched what he called a “Due Payment Campaign,” urging CDCians across the country and in the diaspora to recommit to the party financially and politically. “Let us invest in the movement that has invested in you,” Weah said. “Your dues are more than money. They are a seed of commitment, a pledge of loyalty, and a symbol of hope.”
Weah painted the CDC as the only credible alternative to what he called the “failing” Boakai government. He spoke with renewed energy and defiance, proclaiming the party’s deep roots in the masses and its enduring popularity in communities from New Kru Town to Sasstown. “We are the party of the slum and the city. We are the voice of the voiceless. We are the protectors of the poor,” he declared.
Despite the sharp political tone, Weah also struck notes of reconciliation. In a direct appeal to former CDC partisans who left the party, he asked them to return home. “Come back home and let’s complete the task,” he said. “Return to the masses’ party and let us thrash out whatever differences and move forward.”
Throughout his address, the former president referenced the ideals of Nelson Mandela, stressing that Liberia’s future still lies ahead. “Even the longest night must give way to daylight,” he said, urging young people to stay clean and focused, women to continue rising, and elders to keep guiding. “We must correct the wrongs, improve the system, and restore the dignity of the Liberian people,” he added.
Weah called for a peaceful and strategic rebuild of the CDC, stating that any return to power must be lawful and purposeful. “We will not rest. We will not retreat,” he promised. “We will organize, mobilize, and energize until we reclaim what is rightfully ours, the leadership of Liberia.”
As chants of “Munya! Munya! CDC Munya!” echoed across the rally ground, Weah ended his speech on a note of resolve and caution. “WAIT WELL!” he told the crowd, suggesting that another political opening is coming. “Liberia and Liberians will call on us again. Therefore, be prepared to win again, and lead again!”
