Liberians protest living costs as Weah returns from 48-day trip

Monrovia, Liberia – Lots of of protesters gathered on Saturday on the outer part of the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports activities Complicated in Monrovia to protest towards hovering prices of residing, a day earlier than President George Weah’s return from a 48-day journey overseas.

The protest was organised by the Coalition of Collaborating Events – an opposition alliance within the West African nation – however experiences of inner scuffles saved solely the Different Nationwide Congress (ANC) within the fold.

From as early as 9am, protesters gathered at varied areas across the metropolis, together with the social gathering headquarters of the 2 opposition events, chanting protest songs as they walked to the stadium, Liberia’s largest. “We tiyah [are tired of] struggling”, a few of their banners learn.

ANC supporters additionally wore shirts with the face of their candidate Alexander Cummings, one in every of Weah’s two challengers for the presidency within the 2023 election.

“I’m protesting as a result of the nation is difficult,” Simon, a business motorcyclist advised Al Jazeera. “Rice is pricey, every little thing is pricey, there aren’t any jobs and the federal government shouldn’t be doing something about it.”

Since early December, the value of rice – Liberia’s staple meals – elevated from $15 to $17.50 for every 25kg bag. This improve got here off the heels of a commodity scarcity that has led to lengthy queues and inflated costs of rice and different objects, partly resulting from disruption of world provide as Russia’s conflict continues in Ukraine.

Based on the World Meals Programme, an estimated 64 p.c of individuals in Liberia – one of many world’s poorest international locations – dwell under the poverty line and 1.3 million of these dwell in excessive poverty.

A 2019 authorities payroll harmonisation course of made issues worse, because it successfully decreased the wage of presidency staff since then.

The protests had been held a day earlier than Weah’s return on Sunday from his journey, which included a go to to Qatar to look at his son play for the USA soccer staff within the FIFA World Cup.

The president, whose 1995 win of the Ballon d’Or – the annual award for the world’s greatest participant – stays the one time an African has executed so, additionally made stops in Morocco, Egypt and France.

Whereas the presidency has stated the journey was an official one and authorities officers have claimed that the journey has produced dividends for the nation, opposition figures say it was a waste of scarce sources.

Lewis Brown, previously Liberia’s everlasting consultant to the United Nations and one of many protest organisers, stated the demonstrations had been vital as a result of residing circumstances are on a every day decline.

“Individuals struggling is the truth of the nation, and whereas persons are struggling, there’s a excessive degree of wastage in authorities,” he stated.

Forward of 2023

The protest went on with none disruptions however the build-up was removed from easy.

On December 5, Brown was attacked by thugs after an look at a radio station to talk about the deliberate protests.

In a transfer that additional exacerbated tensions, Liberian military chief Main-Common Prince C Johnson III issued a caveat previous to the protest, urging “whosoever could really feel or is disenchanted as we method the 2023 elections” to hunt redress in courtroom.

He promised that the safety companies would execute their constitutional duties “if they’ll’t management your actions and/or is overwhelmed”, whatever the standing or affiliation of protesters.

Whereas the defence ministry has supported his assertion, it drew criticism from senior opposition leaders and civil society.

In a December 8 information convention, the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) – the nation’s largest civil society coalition for election commentary – stated the military assertion was inappropriate and “an instance of the army meddling in civil affairs by intimidating and instilling worry within the hearts of people that wished to train their constitutional proper to assemble”.

The December 17 protests had been the second in latest occasions after an Independence Day demonstration by college students towards the federal government on July 26 was attacked by pro-government supporters internet hosting a counterrally close by.

Political observers say there are prone to be extra demonstrations forward of the final elections in October 2023.

However they might not be sufficient to dislodge the electoral base of Weah, who stays a well-liked determine in Liberia, stated Ibrahim Nyei, an analyst on the Monrovia-based Ducor Institute for Social and Financial Analysis.

“Whereas they’ve the correct to protest, a more practical technique can be for the opposition to rally their assist base to prove throughout elections,” he advised Al Jazeera.

Nonetheless, protesters imagine that now’s simply as essential as the longer term. For Simon, this protest is a chance to air a stack of grievances towards the present state of governance within the nation.

“We’ll protest now,” he advised Al Jazeera. “I’m protesting to inform the federal government that they’ve failed me and I’m uninterested in the struggling.”