MONROVIA, LIBERIA — August 26, 2026: President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has broken his silence on the arrest and detention of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, assuring Liberians that the government’s intensified campaign against illicit drugs and organized crime is not politically motivated and that no individual will be shielded from the law because of status or political affiliation.
In a special address to the nation Wednesday evening on the fight against illicit drug trafficking, President Boakai said his administration would enforce Liberia’s laws “without fear or favor” while ensuring that the constitutional rights of every person are protected.
The President’s address comes amid heightened public debate over the arrest and detention of Howard-Taylor, whose case has attracted national and international attention.
Boakai acknowledged concerns surrounding the former Vice President’s arrest but stressed that she remains presumed innocent and is entitled to legal representation and due process.
“The former Vice President has been arrested and charged in accordance with our legal procedures. It is not the President’s role to determine guilt or innocence. That responsibility belongs to our independent justice system,” Boakai said.
He warned against allowing politics, rumors, public pressure or conjecture to determine the outcome of the case, insisting that the courts must be allowed to perform their constitutional responsibility.
According to the President, the government’s broader crackdown is targeting narcotics trafficking, money laundering and organized criminal networks amid concerns that illicit drugs are increasingly destroying young lives, destabilizing families and threatening Liberia’s national security.
Boakai said security institutions have been instructed to operate professionally and independently while cooperating with national and international partners to prevent Liberia from becoming a transit route for illegal narcotics or a safe haven for criminal networks.
“This national campaign against drugs and organized crime is not directed at any individual, party, or political movement; it is directed at conduct that threatens the safety, stability, and future of Liberia,” the President declared.
No Political Protection or Persecution
President Boakai sought to dispel claims that the campaign could be used to target political opponents, saying his administration would neither persecute nor protect individuals because of their political connections.
“Whether one has held high office, served in government, led a business, or lived as an ordinary citizen, the law must apply equally to all,” he said.
He also praised members of the Joint Security for what he described as their professionalism and courage, urging them to remain impartial despite pressure, intimidation and what he termed “calculated misinformation.”
The President called on political and religious leaders, civil society organizations and public commentators to exercise restraint and avoid rhetoric that could incite violence, intimidate law-enforcement officers or undermine state institutions.
He similarly appealed to parents, schools, communities, religious institutions, traditional leaders and young people to support drug prevention efforts and report suspected criminal activities through lawful channels.
Boakai Says Drug Crisis Threatens Liberia’s Future
Boakai described illicit drugs as more than a law-enforcement challenge, characterizing the crisis as both a “national security and moral issue.”
He argued that progress under his administration’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development would be undermined if Liberia failed to strengthen the rule of law and confront organized crime.
The President also invoked Liberia’s history of conflict and division, warning against returning to a system where justice could be influenced by political power, intimidation or fear.
“Liberia has come too far to revert to a culture in which justice is swayed by fear, power, or political pressure,” Boakai said.
He concluded by pledging that his government would continue pursuing justice, accountability and peace while protecting the constitutional rights of all citizens.
“We will govern without fear or favor, protect every citizen’s rights, and build a Liberia where peace is preserved, justice is impartial, and accountability applies equally to all,” the President said.
The Truth Is Our Guide