Monrovia, Liberia – Liberia’s fragile political environment was dealt another blow late Wednesday when the headquarters of the Solidarity and Trust for a New Day (STAND), led by former CDC Chairman, Mulbah K. Morlu, Jr., was reportedly set ablaze by unidentified individuals. The incident, which caused significant destruction to the facility, took place just days before STAND’s highly publicized December 17 protest, during which Morlu is calling on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to “lead or leave.” The timing of the attack has fueled widespread speculation and heightened concerns about rising political intimidation in the country.
STAND leadership condemned the attack as a deliberate attempt to weaken their momentum ahead of the nationwide protest. According to Morlu, the arson represents “a cowardly and coordinated assault on democracy,” intended to intimidate citizens who have pledged to join the December 17 demonstration. He stressed that despite the destruction of the movement’s headquarters, the resolve of STAND remains unshaken, warning the Boakai administration that “no level of harassment will silence the people’s demand for accountability.”
The opposition movement believes the attack is part of a broader pattern of repression they say has intensified under President Boakai’s leadership. They accuse the President of failing to demonstrate the international competence and good-governance qualities required to stabilize the nation. STAND officials argue that Boakai’s past associations with the Doe regime and the Lofa Defense Force have resurfaced through what they describe as his administration’s increasingly authoritarian tendencies. According to the group, these tendencies have accelerated Liberia’s political decline.
Morlu used the incident to echo earlier criticisms of the administration’s alleged intimidation-based governing style. He cited previous confrontations with state security forces, including a standoff on Capitol Hill where STAND supporters filed the first official complaint but no action was taken. The opposition leader insists these events reveal a deeply compromised justice system operating under political influence and selective enforcement.
Public outrage has been further fueled by a recent shooting involving state security officers under the command of Inspector General Gregory Coleman. In that incident, a young man identified as Mulbah was shot 27 times, with the family receiving his decomposed remains from the John F. Kennedy Medical Center/Stryker morgue. Morlu referenced this tragedy as evidence of “a new low in state-sponsored brutality,” arguing that such acts intensify public fear and distrust in the nation’s security institutions.
The opposition has also raised accusations of political manipulation involving respected national institutions.
In response to the arson attack and escalating tensions, STAND announced the convening of a National Emergency Meeting to reassess its security posture and mobilization strategy ahead of the December 17 protest. Morlu emphasized that the attack has only strengthened the movement’s determination, adding that the Liberian people “are more resolved than ever to reclaim their voice.” He credited the resilience of the group’s supporters, including prominent activists such as Togar Alexander Bealded, Isaac Jackson, Titus Pakalah, Samuel Jacob, and others who have stood firm in the face of what he described as “a growing tyranny.”
Morlu also openly questioned the silence of Liberia’s leading political figures Alexander B. Cummings, Benoni Urey, former President George M. Weah, Musa Bility, and others. He said their unwillingness to speak out during a moment of national crisis reflects a troubling disconnect from the realities faced by ordinary Liberians. “Your silence is a betrayal of the masses,” he warned, urging them to break their silence as the nation approaches a potentially decisive protest.
Calling on the African Union, ECOWAS, the United Nations, and international human rights organizations, STAND appealed for urgent intervention to prevent further escalation. “Liberia is sliding backward,” Morlu declared, urging global partners to closely monitor the rapidly changing environment. As the December 17 protest approaches, tensions continue to mount, with many Liberians watching closely to see whether the arson attack will galvanize public participation or deepen fear across the political landscape.
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