The year 2024 has emerged as a watershed moment for Liberia, marking a troubling departure from the democratic consolidation the nation has ostensibly pursued since the end of its brutal civil wars in 2003. As an investigative platform, Insights Liberia has observed a disturbing intensification of human rights violations that threaten the very fabric of the country’s fragile peace. The recent incidents involving Representative Luther Sandy Collins and Sekou Kalasco Damaro are not mere anomalies; they are indicators of an encroaching authoritarianism that prioritizes political expediency over the constitutional rights of Liberian citizens. These episodes highlight a broader pattern of state-sponsored abuses targeting political figures and civilians, challenging the integrity of the rule of law under the current administration.
Representative Luther Sandy Collins, serving the people of Gbarpolu County Electoral District #2, recently took the unprecedented step of filing a formal complaint with the Independent National Commission of Human Rights (INCHR) against the Ministry of Justice and the Liberia National Police (LNP). The allegations are grave: Collins claims he was brutally assaulted by security forces while attempting to fulfill his legislative duties during a session regarding the 2025 National Budget. The violence was not limited to the lawmaker; his staffer, Eric Scott, sustained a broken hand, leading both to seek urgent medical attention in Paynesville. This incident reflects a dangerous erosion of the separation of powers.
When a sitting member of the House of Representatives is physically intimidated or beaten by the state’s security apparatus, it sends a chilling message to the average citizen about the lack of protection for political dissent. The LNP, an institution that underwent extensive reform during the post-conflict period to shed its reputation as a tool of repression, appears to be regressing into the patterns of the past. The legislative branch, historically tasked with checking executive overreach, is currently distracted by internal turmoil, notably the controversial ousting of House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa. This internal volatility has effectively paralyzed the legislature, leaving it unable to offer meaningful oversight of the executive’s human rights record.
Furthermore, the December 18, 2024, 'White Tuesday' protest serves as a visceral example of the government’s intolerance for public dissent. Sekou Kalasco Damaro, a key political operative and aide to former President George Weah, was arrested amid a chaotic scene at the Capitol Building. The protest, which was intended to demand transparency and the preservation of the rule of law, was met with aggressive police tactics, including the deployment of tear gas. Witnesses on the ground have alleged that law enforcement fired live rounds into the crowd, a charge the LNP has vehemently denied.
Regardless of the munitions used, the response was a clear violation of Article 17 of the Liberian Constitution, which guarantees the right to peaceful assembly. The arrest of Damaro, a prominent figure associated with the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), suggests a targeted campaign to neutralize political opposition under the guise of public order. Historically, Liberia’s path to stability has been paved by the painful lessons of the 1980s and 90s, where state-sanctioned violence and the suppression of the political opposition were precursors to total national collapse. The current administration’s reliance on force rather than dialogue is a historical regression.
The CDC has characterized these actions as a return to 'jungle justice,' accusing President Boakai’s government of systematically undermining constitutional protections. The party’s call for the release of detained protesters—some of whom remain in undisclosed locations—highlights a alarming lack of transparency that echoes the dark days of Liberia’s history. This obfuscation of due process is a violation of international standards to which Liberia is a signatory, including the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The silence or delayed response from domestic oversight bodies like the INCHR only exacerbates the situation, leaving victims without recourse and the public with declining confidence in the state’s justice system.
The regional implications are equally significant. West Africa is currently undergoing a crisis of democracy, with military coups in the Sahel and a general decline in the quality of governance across the ECOWAS region. Liberia was recently hailed as a beacon of democratic transition following the peaceful transfer of power in early 2024. If the government continues to employ police brutality and arbitrary detention as political tools, it risks losing its status as a stable democratic actor, which could diminish international investment and support.
The United States, the European Union, and regional bodies like ECOWAS have traditionally supported Liberia’s institutional development. These partners must now recognize that the institutional mechanisms they helped build—such as the INCHR and the LNP’s professional training programs—are being circumvented or repurposed. The targeting of political figures like Collins and Damaro is a strategic attempt to stifle political discourse, creating an atmosphere of fear that discourages citizen participation. When a legislator cannot enter his place of work without fear of physical assault, the democratic process is effectively dead.
Moreover, the lack of accountability for officers involved in these abuses fosters a culture of impunity. As Liberia faces significant economic challenges, the need for a stable and predictable political environment is paramount. Economic development cannot thrive in an environment where the rule of law is subservient to the whims of political actors. Addressing these systemic issues requires more than just international condemnation; it necessitates internal reform.
The government must prioritize the de-politicization of the police force, ensuring that law enforcement serves the constitution rather than the interests of the party in power. The judiciary, too, must exert its independence to protect the rights of those arrested during peaceful protests, ensuring that no citizen is held incommunicado or without charge. The events of 2024 are a clarion call for civil society, the press, and the international community to demand accountability. The road to progress is fragile, and the gains made over the last two decades are being eroded by a preference for coercion over democratic norms.
If the administration continues on this path, the cost to Liberia’s social cohesion and political stability will be immense. History has shown that when governments choose to suppress the very people they represent, they only succeed in inviting further instability and ensuring their own eventual downfall. The focus of the Liberian state must return to the protection of fundamental human rights as the bedrock of its governance, or risk undoing the hard-won peace that currently hangs by a thread.
