Monrovia, Liberia – Tensions escalated on the campuses of the University of Liberia (UL) on Monday, November 18 as the Liberia National Police (LNP) reportedly clashed with scores of students during a protest led by the Student Unification Party (SUP).
The demonstration, which called for the reopening of the University of Liberia amidst ongoing faculty strikes, turned violent when police forces reportedly invaded the campus and used excessive force to disperse the protesting students.
The protest was sparked by the prolonged closure of the University, which has been on hiatus due to a series of ongoing grievances voiced by faculty members. Professors and lecturers of the institution have been engaged in a “go-slow” action, demanding the resolution of pressing issues, including unpaid salary arrears and the worsening state of the university’s infrastructure. These issues have led to a significant disruption in academic activities, leaving students in limbo regarding their education.
According to eyewitnesses, the protests were peaceful until security forces were deployed to break up the crowd. The LNP’s response has been widely condemned, with reports indicating that several students were physically assaulted and detained during the confrontation. As news of the incident spread, students, human rights advocates, and civil society organizations condemned the use of force against peaceful demonstrators.
In a statement released shortly after the violent clash, the Student Unification Party (SUP), the leading student group at the University of Liberia, denounced the police’s actions as “a brutal violation of students’ rights” and called for the immediate release of detained students. The group also called on the government to address the underlying issues of faculty dissatisfaction, including the timely payment of salaries and the repair of deteriorating campus infrastructure.
“We are protesting because the University of Liberia is supposed to be a place of learning, but it has become a place of hardship for both students and teachers. This situation cannot continue,” said David S. Sherman, President of the Student Unification Party. “We demand that the government prioritize education and find lasting solutions to these systemic problems.”
The UL, Liberia’s largest public university, has long struggled with underfunding, outdated facilities, and issues of governance, which have led to a decline in the quality of education. Faculty members, many of whom have not received their salaries for several months, have expressed frustration over these conditions, leading to the current strike.
In response to the protests, government officials have acknowledged the issues but have yet to offer a concrete solution. President George Weah’s administration has faced mounting pressure to address the grievances of both students and faculty, as the ongoing academic disruption threatens to derail the education of thousands of young Liberians.
Despite the violence, many hope that the government and the University administration will engage in meaningful dialogue with student leaders and faculty representatives to reach a peaceful resolution. However, the growing frustration among students suggests that tensions may continue to rise if urgent steps are not taken to address their demands.
