By Amos Harris
Political tensions between Liberia’s former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the current governing Unity Party (UP) are intensifying. A series of controversial investigations and subsequent court rulings have sparked a national debate over whether key opposition figures are being unfairly targeted for political gain or held to account for past actions.
When President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration assumed power, it did so on a platform of accountability and anti-corruption. This stance initially resonated with a public eager for transparency. However, as several high-profile cases against former CDC officials have crumbled in court or ended in police exonerations, the narrative is shifting. CDC supporters now argue that these investigations were politicized from the start, designed to damage the reputation of opposition leaders before credible evidence could even be gathered.
One of the most prominent cases involved former Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Tamba Koijee. For over a year, Koijee was publicly linked to a high-stakes investigation regarding the illegal importation of arms. The allegations fueled intense social media speculation and political rhetoric. Yet, in 2024, the Liberia National Police announced that a reinvestigation found no evidence linking Koijee to the shipment, instead identifying another individual as the principal suspect. Koijee was also cleared in the tragic death of Charlotte Musa, a case where his name circulated heavily despite a total lack of formal evidence.
Similarly, former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Nathaniel McGill faced serious allegations of payroll padding and financial misconduct. McGill was a primary target for critics of the former administration, yet in March 2026, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) cleared him after investigators failed to substantiate the claims. This development was viewed by many as a significant blow to the government’s efforts to prosecute senior members of the previous regime.
Perhaps the most significant legal defeat for the current administration came with the acquittal of former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. Charged in connection with a US$6 million financial scandal, Tweah’s case was seen as a litmus test for the Boakai administration’s anti-corruption drive. However, after months of legal proceedings, Criminal Court “C” acquitted Tweah and his co-defendants of all charges. While UP supporters maintain that the government had a duty to investigate, the CDC celebrated the ruling as definitive proof of a politically motivated “witch hunt” lacking legal merit.
The pattern of exoneration extended beyond financial crimes to sensitive social issues. For years, rumors persisted regarding the involvement of CDC-linked individuals in the mysterious deaths of three boys in Bong County. After an exhaustive investigation, the Liberia National Police concluded that the deaths were a tragic accident resulting from a capsized canoe on the St. Paul River, officially clearing Moses Ashossouhle and Abraham Samuel of any foul play.
These repeated legal failures have raised concerns among political analysts and legal experts about the vulnerability of Liberia’s justice system to political influence. Critics argue that the reputational damage suffered by these officials—often publicized aggressively before facts were established—cannot be easily undone by an acquittal. They warn that using the justice system as a political tool undermines the credibility of national institutions.
Conversely, the Unity Party and its supporters insist that no official is above the law. They argue that investigating allegations of corruption or national security threats is a democratic necessity, regardless of the final verdict. They maintain that a court’s inability to secure a conviction does not necessarily mean the investigation itself was illegitimate or without merit.
As the political divide widens, the public’s attention has turned to the Ministry of Information. Deputy Minister for Public Affairs Daniel O. Sando is expected to address the media during the government’s regular press briefing. Citizens are eager to see if the administration will respect the court’s decision regarding Samuel Tweah or if it will publicly criticize the prosecution’s failure.
Ultimately, the escalating friction between the CDC and the Unity Party threatens to polarize the nation ahead of future elections. For many Liberians, the central concern is no longer just the guilt or innocence of individual officials, but whether the country’s justice system can remain independent and fair in an increasingly charged political environment. The long-term stability of Liberia’s democracy may well depend on the ability of its institutions to treat all citizens equally under the law, regardless of their political affiliation.
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