Liberia: CDC, MOVEE Condemn Alleged Attack on Yekeh Kolubah, Warn of Rising Political Intolerance   - FrontPageAfrica

Monrovia – The opposition Congress for Democratic Change and the Movement for Economic Empowerment have strongly condemned what they described as a violent attack against Montserrado County District 10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah during a political tour in Ganta, Ganta, warning that the incident signals a dangerous rise in political intolerance under the administration of President Joseph Boakai and Vice President Jeremiah Koung.

By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com

In a joint statement issued Thursday, the CDC and MOVEE described the alleged assault as “cowardly, disgraceful, and completely unacceptable in a democratic and civilized society,” insisting that the incident goes beyond an attack on one individual and threatens Liberia’s broader democratic stability.

The statement claimed that Representative Kolubah was attacked while carrying out what the parties termed a peaceful political engagement in Nimba County. The opposition groups alleged that the incident reflects what they called a “growing campaign of intimidation, political intolerance, and lawlessness” surrounding the current administration.

According to the two political institutions, the incident in Ganta demonstrates what they believe is an increasing normalization of political violence in Liberia.

“CDC and MOVEE consider this assault not merely as an attack against one lawmaker, but as an attack on democratic participation, freedom of movement, and the constitutional rights of all Liberians,” the statement said.

The parties further accused the Boakai-Koung administration of presiding over what they described as a pattern of abuses since taking office in 2024, including “suppression of dissent, political witch-hunt and persecution, growing intolerance toward opposing political voices, clampdown on freedom of speech, and other human rights violations.”

The statement warned that Liberia risks returning to a dangerous political culture where intimidation and aggression are used to silence critics and opponents.

“Liberia’s painful history teaches us that violence tolerated today becomes instability tomorrow,” the statement added.

The CDC and MOVEE vowed that any attempt to suppress democratic participation through intimidation, mob violence, or alleged state-backed aggression would be resisted “through all lawful and democratic means available.”

The parties also encouraged Representative Kolubah not to be intimidated by the incident, emphasizing that every Liberian citizen has the constitutional right to move freely and engage in peaceful political activities across the country.

“No county, district, or community in Liberia belongs to any political party. Liberia belongs to all Liberians,” the statement stressed.

Additionally, the CDC and MOVEE, in the statement signed by CDC National Chairman Janga A. Kowo and MOVEE National Chairman Prince Mehn, called on the international community, including the United Nations, Economic Community of West African States, and the African Union, as well as civil society organizations, religious leaders, student groups, and the media, to closely monitor what they termed “dangerous developments” in the country.

As part of his countywide tour following his controversial expulsion from the House of Representatives, Rep. Yekeh Kolubah entered Sanniquellie on the afternoon of Wednesday, May 6, 2026, accompanied by a large convoy of commercial motorcyclists and supporters.

Initially, the atmosphere remained calm as hundreds of residents lined the streets to catch a glimpse of the embattled lawmaker and welcome his arrival.

However, according to eyewitnesses, the situation later turned chaotic while Kolubah and his supporters were dancing in celebration.

Mayor of Ganta Denies Allegations  

Witnesses alleged that a gray jeep, reportedly arriving from Ganta with several young men onboard, drove into the gathering and began disrupting the event by allegedly throwing stones at Kolubah and his supporters.

The vehicle was reportedly alleged by some onlookers to be linked to the Mayor of Ganta City.

The scene quickly descended into confusion as residents and supporters scrambled for safety, while some of Kolubah’s supporters allegedly retaliated by throwing stones back at the occupants of the jeep.

During the confrontation, one of the men from the vehicle reportedly sustained a head injury, forcing the group to retreat to the jeep and flee the scene.

An eyewitness who recorded part of the incident in a video claimed that the vehicle belonged to the Mayor of Ganta City and that the driver was the head of the Ganta City Police.

However, Ganta City Mayor Samuel S. Hardt denied the allegations when contacted by FrontPage Africa.

Mayor Hardt said Kolubah and his team passed peacefully through Ganta without any form of harassment, arguing that there would have been no reason for him to order any attack against the lawmaker in another city outside his jurisdiction.

He also rejected claims that the vehicle belonged to him, stating that he is not the only person in Nimba County who owns a gray jeep matching the description provided by eyewitnesses.

Hardt further accused Kolubah of falsely implicating him in the incident and maintained that he is a law-abiding citizen who does not support violence under any circumstances.

Jerry T. Myers contributed to this story.