Monrovia, Liberia – Jefferson Tamba Koijee, Secretary General of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), has formally written the United States Embassy in Monrovia, urging an immediate review, suspension, and investigation into U.S. support to the Liberia National Police (LNP).
The letter, addressed to Joe Zadrozny, raises what Koijee describes as “urgent national concerns” over the conduct of the police under Inspector General Gregory Coleman.
Koijee argues that while U.S. assistance to Liberia’s security sector has historically aimed to strengthen democratic institutions and protect human rights, recent developments suggest a troubling shift. According to him, the LNP is increasingly perceived not as a neutral enforcer of the law, but as an institution undermining public trust.
Allegations of Abuse and Impunity
In his communication, Koijee highlights a pattern of alleged police misconduct, including brutality, deaths in custody, and failure to investigate serious crimes such as drug trafficking and corruption.
He referenced multiple cases involving alleged police violence and lack of accountability, claiming that many incidents have not resulted in prosecution or formal investigation. These include reported deaths in custody, shootings, and alleged excessive use of force against civilians.
Koijee also pointed to recent incidents involving student protesters in Monrovia, alleging that peaceful demonstrators—particularly members of the Students Unification Party—were subjected to unlawful arrests, physical abuse, and degrading treatment while in police custody.
Additionally, he raised concerns about what he described as an attempted attack on Representative Saah Foko, suggesting a broader pattern of intimidation involving state security actors.
Concerns Over U.S. Support
A central issue in Koijee’s letter is the role of U.S. assistance. He warned that continued support—financial, logistical, or training—could risk enabling practices that contradict democratic values and human rights principles.
“There is a legitimate fear among citizens that U.S. taxpayer funding… may instead be enabling or sustaining practices inconsistent with those goals,” the letter states.
Koijee cautioned that failure to address these concerns could undermine both Liberia’s democratic institutions and U.S. credibility in promoting governance and accountability.
Calls for Action
Koijee is urging the U.S. government to:
- Support an independent and transparent investigation into how U.S. assistance to the LNP is being used
- Consider suspending or restructuring support pending the outcome of such an inquiry
- Tie future assistance to measurable reforms, particularly in accountability and human rights compliance
- Promote greater transparency and public reporting on security sector support
Emphasis on U.S.-Liberia Relations
Despite his concerns, Koijee reaffirmed Liberia’s longstanding relationship with the United States, emphasizing that the call for review is rooted in preserving democratic integrity.
“The people of Liberia value the longstanding partnership with the United States… It is precisely because of this relationship that these concerns must be raised,” he noted.
As of press time, the United States Embassy in Monrovia and the Liberia National Police had not publicly responded to the allegations.
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