Monrovia, Liberia – The delivery of President Joseph Boakai’s 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA), scheduled for January 19, faces uncertainty as the Vanguard Student Unification Party (SUP), a prominent student organization at the University of Liberia (UL), has vowed to disrupt the event unless the institution is reopened.
The SONA, which is a constitutional obligation for the President, serves as a key moment for him to engage the public and provide an update on the state of the nation.
However, the ongoing closure of the University of Liberia, which has now lasted nearly six months, has glowed widespread protests led by SUP. The group has voiced strong dissatisfaction with the situation, blaming President Boakai and his administration for what they describe as a “reckless demeanor” that has kept the university closed. SUP alleges that the closure is a deliberate attempt by the government to silence student activism and suppress critical viewpoints on governance.
At today, January 6, press conference, SUP criticized the Boakai administration for what it views as a failure to prioritize the education of over 22,000 students. “Students have been victims of political maneuvering for far too long. We are tired of the empty promises and lack of action,” said a representative from the group.
The students have drawn a direct line between the closure of the university and their demand for the President to address their grievances, warning that any attempt to deliver the SONA without meeting their demand for the reopening of UL would be met with resistance.
SUP has set a deadline for the government and the University of Liberia Administration, urging that the institution be reopened by January 13, 2025. The group cited Article 6 of Liberia’s 1986 Constitution, which guarantees the right to education, as well as international human rights agreements like the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, to support their position. “The disregard for our rights is unacceptable,” SUP’s statement declared. “While universities in other countries continue to progress, Liberian students are left to struggle with basic academic activities.”
In addition to condemning the government’s handling of the closure, SUP has criticized the leadership of UL under Madam Edna Johnny, accusing her of politicizing education and undermining the academic future of students. The group has characterized 2024 as a year of unfulfilled promises and has declared 2025 a year of resistance and determination for change.
SUP’s call to action extends beyond the university, urging its supporters to remain engaged in the fight for social justice, academic freedom, and peace. The group has warned that failure to reopen UL by the deadline will lead to unspecified “revolutionary actions” aimed at drawing attention to their cause.
“The right to education is non-negotiable,” SUP concluded. “We demand the reopening of the University of Liberia by January 13, 2025, or there will be consequences.”
