The CDC’s commitment to peaceful political engagement is facing questions after keynote speaker Paulita Wie warned that there would be war if the elections are rigged in 2029.
Wie, who served as the keynote speaker at the CDC’s Martyrs Day program in Grand Cape Mount County on Saturday, November 7, 2026, warned that the party would no longer maintain what she described as a restrained approach to political engagement in the name of peace.
“If the Unity Party wants war, we will give it to them. If they want peace, we will also give them peace. We will reciprocate whatever they give us,” Wie declared during her address.
She further stated that CDC members would no longer put Bibles on their chests as a symbol of peaceful resistance, adding that they would respond to political attacks with equal force.
“We are not putting Bibles on our chests anymore come 2029, and we will return fire for fire,” she said.
The former senatorial candidate also launched a scathing attack on the administration of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, describing the government as corrupt, evil, demonic, and wicked. However, she did not provide specific evidence during the remarks presented in her address to substantiate those allegations.
Her comments appear to signal a more confrontational political posture among some CDC figures as the country gradually approaches the 2029 elections, when President Boakai and former President George Manneh Weah could again become central figures in Liberia’s political contest.
However, the remarks have raised questions about the potential consequences of increasingly aggressive political rhetoric as Liberia prepares for another election cycle.
A Memorial Program Turns More Political
The comments came during a commemoration organized around the memory of CDC members who lost their lives during the party’s political struggle, particularly the November 7, 2011 confrontation at the CDC headquarters in Monrovia.
The 2026 observance, held in Kinjor, Grand Cape Mount County, was organized under the theme, “They Carried the Struggle, We Carry Their Legacy.” The historical significance of the date makes the choice of language at this year’s gathering particularly important, especially given Liberia’s history of political tensions and election-related violence.
While the party’s commemoration was intended to honor fallen supporters and reflect on their sacrifices, Wie’s remarks introduced a more confrontational tone into the gathering.
Her reference to no longer putting Bibles on their chests appears to invoke the peaceful posture associated with previous CDC protests, suggesting that some party supporters may be unwilling to maintain the same approach during future political confrontations.
Questions for CDC Leadership and Political Stakeholders
Wie’s declaration raises several important questions that deserve clarification from the CDC’s national leadership.
Does her statement represent the official position of the party, or was it an expression of her personal political frustration? What does she mean by returning “fire for fire,” and is she referring to political resistance, electoral mobilization, or physical confrontation?
These questions are particularly important because political leaders and influential party figures have a responsibility to distinguish between defending democratic rights and encouraging actions that could threaten public safety.
The remarks also place the ruling Unity Party and the opposition CDC under greater scrutiny regarding their commitment to peaceful political competition.
The CDC’s National Chairman, Atty. Janga A. Kowo, also addressed the gathering, calling for credible and impartial investigations into unresolved cases of political violence and urging supporters to reject violence, respect political differences, and uphold democratic principles.
His emphasis on justice through due process presents an important contrast to the confrontational language used by the keynote speaker.
The 2029 Question
With approximately three years remaining before the next general and presidential elections, Liberia’s political stakeholders face the responsibility of preventing inflammatory statements from developing into actual confrontations.
The 2023 elections demonstrated that political competition can produce a peaceful transfer of power. Preserving that democratic achievement will require restraint, accountability, and respect for the rule of law from both government and opposition actors.
For now, Wie’s warning has placed the CDC’s political messaging under renewed public scrutiny, with the central question being whether the party’s approach to 2029 will be defined by peaceful electoral competition or increasingly confrontational political rhetoric.
The country will be watching whether the CDC leadership clarifies the meaning of the warning and whether other political leaders will publicly discourage threats of violence ahead of the 2029 elections.
