By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Hundreds of demonstrators besieged the streets of Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, on Thursday, chanting “enough is enough” and demanding accountability from President Joseph Boakai’s administration, accusing it of failure to meet campaign promises nearly two years in office.
The protest was led by an opposition leader, Mulbah Morlu, and marks a sharp resentment among citizens since Boakai took office last year with a promise to embark on reforms that will impact livelihood in the West African nation.
The placard-bearing protesters voiced frustrations over plethora of unmet campaign promises, including shrinking job opportunities and government’s failure to establish a long-promised war crimes court.
“I am very angry. This is why I am in the street today,” said Victoria Roberts, a local businesswoman.
“I am in the street to remind my government of their past promises that they made to we, the Liberian people. How can you say that you came to better the lives of the people, but then you came and took people from jobs? Is that what you call betterment?”
Among the key demands of the protesters is justice for victims of the country’s civil wars.
Demonstrators are calling for the establishment of a war crimes tribunal to prosecute those involved in the atrocities committed during the 1989-2003 civil war.
“We the motorcyclists, we want a war crimes court,” said Dougis Smith, an opposition supporter.
Liberians have expressed displeasure that individuals believed to have committed war crimes have still not been brought to justice, instead seeking political offices.
“Liberians voted for Joseph Boakai because he has 40 years experience. So he should start to use that 40 years experience for the Liberian people, not for him to come and put tension on the Liberian people. We are suffering. Let Joseph Boakai do the right thing,” another demonstrator Musu Dennis demanded.
Boakai, a former vice president who defeated incumbent George Weah, a football star, to the country’s presidency, was brought to power following years of mounting protests accusing the previous government of mismanaging funds and corruption while the cost of living spiralled for average Liberians.
With his past on Liberia’s rubber plantations and a stint in the 1980s as agricultural minister, President Boakai was seen as the best choice to turn around the economy.
Boakai, 80, is however, yet to meet the expectations of the Liberian people.
