Liberia News: The Government Shooting Itself in the Legs

Liberia-Amidst claims and counter-claims about the government of Liberia’s expression of interest in the service of former President George Weah and other national stakeholders for the country’s aspiration for a non-permanent United Nations Security Council seat, former President has let the cat out of the bag, saying that the government is shooting itself in the legs or sabotaging itself as it relates to the Boakai administration’s bid for a seat on the UNSC.

The former President last Thursday responded to the government’s communication in which it sought his support to the country’s quest to occupy the seat, delivering what appears to be a scathing rebuke of the Boakai administration.

Mr. Weah is concerned about the conflicting actions and statements from the administration, describing them as counterproductive and damaging to Liberia’s international standing.

In a recent response, the former President highlighted the contradictions within the government, where one ministry praises his past efforts for Liberia’s UNSC bid while another launches a public attack.

The statement said: “The spokesman of the government at the Ministry of Information went on a juvenile, sophomoric rant… in a vain attempt to denigrate former President Weah,” noting the glaring inconsistency between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ formal communication acknowledging his contributions and the Ministry of Information’s unwarranted invectives.

Recall that on last Tuesday, at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing, Deputy Information Minister Daniel Sando decried reports circulating in the media regarding former President Weah’s involvement in Liberia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council.

In his expression, the Government of Liberia does not hold any special interest in former President Weah’s participation and said his opinion carries no extra weight compared to other prominent Liberians.

But the ex-Liberian leader has condemned the disarray as disingenuous behavior and emphasized that it reveals a fractured government. “Such disingenuous behavior points to an apparent schism in the ranks and a duality of policy in government that in themselves pose a risk to the bid,” Weah stated.

He warned that this lack of coordination threatens Liberia’s chances at securing the highly coveted seat on the UNSC.

Mr. Weah was particularly concerned that these internal contradictions would erode the credibility needed for the bid. He reminded the nation of the foundational principles that the UNSC represents, such as good governance, the rule of law, and the protection of freedoms-values that the current administration seems to be undermining.

Former President Weah cited a recent raid on the headquarters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) by state security forces, calling it an “unprovoked attack” that flouted political freedoms and endangered national unity.

“Regrettably, the current domestic landscape presents challenges that could undermine and derail the essence of our bid,” Weah warned. He stressed that the government’s increasing disregard for democracy and its misuse of state resources to target political opponents could backfire, eroding both domestic stability and international trust.

Weah further argued that the Boakai administration’s actions are directly at odds with the ideals Liberia must project to the global community.