Liberia: Opposition Demands Action On SIB US$8M Transfer Investigation

• Five major Liberian opposition parties have formed a new alliance, accusing the Boakai-Koung administration of weakening democratic institutions and mishandling national security.
• The opposition's communiqué highlights concerns over the Liberia-Guinea border dispute, deteriorating EU relations, and a lack of transparency regarding a US-Liberia national transfer arrangement.
• They allege selective enforcement of anti-corruption laws and demand LACC investigations into a controversial US$10 million Foya construction project.
• The alliance specifically calls for an inquiry into an alleged US$8 million transfer from the Central Bank of Liberia to SIB Liberia in May 2024.
• The opposition leaders emphasize their commitment to accountability, constitutional democracy, economic opportunity, judicial independence, and national development.

Moreover, the opposition parties have specifically renewed their calls for the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate an alleged US$8 million transfer from the Central Bank of Liberia to SIB Liberia in May 2024.

Five prominent Liberian opposition parties have formally established a new collaborative framework, issuing a strong critique of the current Boakai-Koung administration. The Alternative National Congress (ANC), Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), and Union of Liberian Democrats Party (ULDP) formalized their alliance by signing a joint communiqué on Sunday, September 27. This significant development followed a second opposition roundtable held at Sinkor Palace in Monrovia.

The communiqué, endorsed by key political figures including former President George Manneh Weah of the CDC, ANC Political Leader Alexander Cummings, MOVEE Political Leader Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, MPC Political Leader Simeon Freeman, and ULDP Political Leader Jonathan Mason, outlines a series of grievances. The opposition collectively accuses the government of systematically weakening democratic institutions, demonstrating incompetence in national security management, applying anti-corruption laws with bias, and failing to deliver tangible economic relief to the Liberian populace.

Beyond immediate electoral considerations, the newly formed alliance has articulated broader objectives. It aims to concentrate its efforts on promoting accountability, strengthening constitutional democracy, fostering economic opportunity, ensuring judicial independence, and driving national development. To facilitate these goals, the parties have established an Opposition Political Parties’ Joint Technical Committee, tasked with developing a comprehensive implementation and operational agenda for the coalition.

Among the most pressing issues highlighted by the opposition is the ongoing border dispute between Liberia and Guinea in the Foya District of Lofa County. The opposition leaders contend that the government has not adequately safeguarded Liberia's territorial integrity and have called for more robust diplomatic action to resolve the protracted tensions that have persisted for months around Sorlumba. While the government has acknowledged the border situation, it maintains that it is actively pursuing a peaceful diplomatic resolution, noting that delegations were dispatched to Conakry in March and that Presidents Joseph Boakai, Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone, and Mamady Doumbouya of Guinea have engaged in discussions on the matter. However, the opposition insists that the government must escalate its efforts through regional bodies like ECOWAS, the African Union, and other international mechanisms to secure Liberia's territorial claims.

The parties also voiced concerns over what they perceive as a decline in Liberia’s diplomatic standing, specifically referencing the controversy surrounding European Union Ambassador Nona Deprez. They alleged that the government sought her recall after she raised questions regarding transparency within the mining sector. The subsequent absence of a replacement ambassador, according to the opposition, signifies a deterioration in diplomatic relations. It is important to note, however, that the EU’s official delegation page for Liberia continues to list Deprez as its ambassador and head of delegation.

Furthermore, the opposition has demanded increased transparency regarding a specific arrangement between the United States and Liberia. This agreement involves the potential transfer of up to 1,200 third-country nationals to Liberia. The opposition leaders assert that the Liberian public has a fundamental right to be fully informed about the terms, safeguards, and broader implications of this arrangement.

A central pillar of the opposition's critique revolves around allegations of selective enforcement of anti-corruption measures by the current administration. The parties have urged the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) to initiate investigations into accusations involving both current and former government officials, emphasizing the need for impartial application of justice.

Specifically, the opposition has renewed its demands for an inquiry into a contentious US$10 million construction project situated in Foya, Lofa County. The Alternative National Congress (ANC) had previously submitted a petition to the LACC concerning this project, to which the commission responded by indicating it would undertake a preliminary assessment to determine if a full investigation was warranted.

Moreover, the opposition parties have specifically renewed their calls for the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission to investigate an alleged US$8 million transfer from the Central Bank of Liberia to SIB Liberia in May 2024. It is crucial to underscore that these allegations, as presented in the communiqué, have not been substantiated as findings of wrongdoing.

Source: Original reporting via Liberian press reports