By Amos Harris
MONROVIA — The opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has come under intense public scrutiny following its reported boycott of the memorial service for its former National Chairman, George G. Solo. The mass absence of party leadership has raised fresh concerns regarding lingering internal divisions and how the party treats its former high-ranking officials.
The memorial service, held at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church on 10th Street in Sinkor, was organized to honor the life and political contributions of the late Solo, a founding figure and longtime strategist for the CDC. However, the total absence of the party’s top brass quickly drew widespread attention and sharp criticism from both political observers and grassroots supporters.
George G. Solo served as the seventh democratically elected National Chairman of the CDC from 2012 to 2014. During his tenure, he was widely regarded as a key architect of the party, playing a major role in shaping its political direction and expanding its massive grassroots structure across Liberia.
Despite those significant contributions, Solo’s time at the helm ended in controversy. He was removed from his position by the party’s National Executive Committee on August 3, 2014—a bitter ouster that political commentators believe created deep, unhealed fractures within the CDC leadership.
Attendees at the church service noted that not a single senior CDC official or prominent executive was present at the ceremony. Many described the move as both shocking and politically damaging for an organization that has historically prided itself on loyalty, brotherhood, and solidarity.
The apparent boycott has triggered a wave of criticism from within the party’s own ranks. Disgruntled supporters argue that past political disagreements should never overshadow the respect and recognition owed to an individual who dedicated years of his life to building the party’s national prominence.
Prior to his passing, Solo had crossed political lines. On August 12, 2025, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai nominated him to serve as Liberia’s Ambassador-Designate to Italy. However, his confirmation process was cut short by the Senate, and Solo passed away on April 25, 2026, before he could be officially confirmed.
Political analysts believe this snub could further expose ongoing internal tensions within the CDC at a critical juncture. The former ruling party is currently attempting to rebrand and rebuild its political relevance following its narrow defeat in the 2023 presidential elections.
Experts warn that such public displays of division risk weakening public confidence in the party’s unity and organizational structure ahead of future electoral contests. It also raises serious questions about the sincerity of the CDC’s internal reconciliation efforts between current leadership and estranged former figures.
As public debate intensifies over the leadership’s decision to stay away, many Liberians view the incident as a microcosm of broader challenges confronting the CDC—chief among them being internal cohesion, political maturity, and institutional respect for the individuals who helped lay its foundations.
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