Koijee Launches Scathing Critique of Boakai Administration, Cites Governance Collapse. MONROVIA, JULY 24, 2026—In a political landscape that remains increasingly polarized, Jefferson T. Koijee, the Secretary General of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and the former Mayor of Monrovia, has delivered an exceptionally harsh indictment of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration. Branding the current government an "absolute disaster," Koijee’s remarks represent a significant escalation in the rhetoric between Liberia's ruling Unity Party and the former ruling party.
This assessment, delivered during a press engagement in the capital, underscores the growing instability and deep-seated frustrations characterizing the Liberian political sphere mid-way through the 2026 calendar year. To understand the gravity of Koijee’s claims, one must look at the broader context of Liberia’s democratic trajectory since the democratic transfer of power in 2024. President Boakai, a veteran politician who served as Vice President for twelve years under Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, campaigned on a platform of 'Rescue,' promising to revitalize the economy, combat corruption, and strengthen the rule of law. However, as the administration nears the midpoint of its tenure, critics argue that these promises have largely evaporated in the face of persistent inflation, institutional gridlock, and a perceived erosion of democratic norms.
Koijee, speaking with the measured intensity of a seasoned opposition operative, insisted that his criticisms were not mere partisan maneuvering. Instead, he framed them as a reflection of the lived realities of ordinary Liberians. "My honest opinion is that this is an absolute disaster," Koijee declared. "This is not about politics.
It is about the reality of what is currently taking place in Liberia. When citizens cannot afford basic commodities, when the judiciary feels the weight of executive overreach, and when the machinery of government grinds to a halt due to infighting, one cannot simply remain silent under the guise of political etiquette." The former mayor acknowledged that the previous CDC-led administration, which served from 2018 to 2024, faced its own significant hurdles, including high-profile allegations of corruption and a challenging post-COVID economic environment. However, he posited that the current administration’s performance is markedly worse when measured against their own high-minded campaign rhetoric.
"I am not saying everything was perfect during our time in government," he admitted. "But when you compare what occurred during our administration across various sectors with what is happening today, Liberians can clearly see the difference in both capacity and vision." The critique specifically targeted the perceived decline in the rule of law. Governance experts note that Liberia’s transition to stability after years of civil war has relied heavily on the strengthening of horizontal accountability institutions—such as the Anti-Corruption Commission and the General Auditing Commission.
Koijee contends that these institutions are being systematically undermined, either through partisan appointments or the starvation of their operating budgets, effectively neutralizing their ability to check executive power. Perhaps the most striking element of Koijee’s statement was his pointed focus on the internal hierarchy of the administration, particularly the role of Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung. Koijee argued that the Vice President has assumed roles and responsibilities that extend well beyond those clearly defined by the Liberian Constitution. In the Liberian political structure, the Vice President serves as the President of the Senate and acts as a key advisor, but possesses limited executive authority independent of the President.
Koijee claimed that the Vice President’s increased involvement in the minutiae of cabinet-level decision-making has created a bureaucratic logjam, leading to a diffusion of authority that confuses civil servants and stalls service delivery. "There is a clear lack of defined leadership," Koijee argued. "The Vice President is acting in capacities that belong to ministers, and in doing so, he is creating a structure that is entirely dysfunctional. This is not how a republic operates.
This is occurring under the direct observation of President Boakai, and his silence or inability to rectify this indicates a failure of presidential stewardship." The implication here is that President Boakai may be losing control over his own executive branch, a dangerous narrative for an administration already struggling with low public approval ratings. The implications of this perceived power vacuum are profound for a country that is still working to consolidate its democratic gains. Liberia has made strides in institutionalizing elections and peaceful power transitions, but the strength of its democracy depends on the functioning of the cabinet and the clear demarcation of duties.
When those lines blur, the risk of corruption and administrative chaos increases exponentially. Furthermore, the economic climate remains a primary concern for the administration. As of mid-2026, Liberia is grappling with the lingering effects of global supply chain disruptions and a national debt crisis that has limited the government's ability to invest in infrastructure. Koijee argued that instead of addressing these systemic economic issues, the Boakai administration has allowed political emotions to dictate governance.
He suggested that there is an obsession with "settling scores" against the former CDC officials, utilizing state mechanisms to pursue political vendettas rather than fostering a national development agenda. "Liberians deserve a government that focuses on bread and butter issues, not a government focused on political harassment," Koijee asserted. This sentiment resonates with a significant portion of the populace, particularly the youth demographic, who have grown impatient with the pace of development. The historical context of Liberian politics often involves periods of sharp contention followed by attempts at reconciliation.
However, the current divide seems particularly acute. The CDC, while out of power, maintains a robust presence in the Legislature and a vocal base of supporters across the country. By framing the administration as an "absolute disaster," Koijee is clearly positioning the CDC to capitalize on public dissatisfaction heading into the next election cycle. He concluded his remarks by announcing that the CDC will formalize its concerns and engage with Liberia’s international partners.
This is a strategic move designed to internationalize the internal political struggle, signaling that the opposition believes domestic avenues for accountability have been exhausted. Whether international donors and diplomats will heed these warnings or view them as standard opposition rhetoric remains to be seen. The international community, including the United Nations and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), has historically played a stabilizing role in Liberia. Bringing these concerns to the international stage could place pressure on the Boakai administration to demonstrate greater transparency, but it also risks deepening the polarization if the government dismisses these international queries as foreign interference.
As the nation watches this public feud unfold, the fundamental question remains whether the Boakai administration can recalibrate its governance strategy to restore public confidence. The accusation of a governance collapse is a heavy one, and it serves as a wake-up call to the administration that the era of political honeymooning has long since passed. With economic pressures mounting and the political stakes rising, the coming months will be critical for President Boakai. He must address the internal fragmentation within his cabinet, clarify the roles of his senior leadership, and demonstrate that his administration is committed to the rule of law rather than personal political interests.
If he fails to do so, the narrative advanced by Koijee may well become the defining legacy of his presidency. The future of Liberia’s democratic stability rests on the ability of both the government and the opposition to move beyond hyperbolic warfare and engage in a discourse that prioritizes the nation’s long-term health over short-term political gains.