By Kruah Thompson
MONROVIA, Liberia, September 3, 2026 — Former President George M. Weah returned to Liberia Wednesday to a large turnout of supporters at Roberts International Airport and along parts of the route to Monrovia, demonstrating his continued ability to mobilize his political base nearly three years before the 2029 general elections.
Weah, who served as Liberia’s president from 2018 to 2024, arrived following days of mobilization by supporters of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC).
Hundreds of supporters gathered at Roberts International Airport and other locations, with many dressed in the CDC’s red, white and blue colors, chanting slogans and celebrating the former president’s return.
The turnout provided a visible demonstration of Weah’s continued influence within the opposition and has renewed political discussion about the positioning of the CDC and the governing Unity Party ahead of the 2029 elections.
However, the size of Wednesday’s gathering alone does not provide a measure of nationwide voter sentiment or establish whether President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s political support has declined since taking office in January 2024.
Some Weah supporters interviewed by this publication accused the Boakai administration of suppressing dissent and targeting political opponents, claims the government has repeatedly rejected.
Among the issues cited by supporters was the arrest and prosecution of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor in connection with an ongoing investigation into an alleged international cocaine trafficking network.
Howard-Taylor, who served as vice president during Weah’s administration, faces multiple criminal charges arising from the investigation. Her lawyers have rejected the allegations and characterized the case as politically motivated.
The government has denied that the prosecution is politically driven, maintaining that its anti-narcotics campaign is being conducted without regard to political affiliation, influence or social status.
The allegations against Howard-Taylor have not been proven in court, and she remains entitled to the presumption of innocence unless convicted.
Meanwhile, a significant security presence was visible at Roberts International Airport as supporters gathered to receive Weah.
Personnel from several state security agencies were deployed around the airport and other areas as the crowd awaited the former president’s arrival.
Weah’s return comes at a time of increasing political activity in Liberia, despite the next presidential and legislative elections remaining three years away.
For the CDC, Wednesday’s reception provided an opportunity to demonstrate that Weah remains a formidable political figure capable of mobilizing a substantial base after losing the presidency to Boakai in the 2023 runoff election.
Weah conceded that election after a closely contested race and subsequently left office in January 2024, becoming Liberia’s first sitting president in decades to peacefully hand power to an elected opposition candidate.
His political future and whether he will seek the presidency again in 2029 remain subjects of public discussion as the CDC seeks to position itself for the next electoral contest.
For the Boakai administration, the display of opposition mobilization comes as the government faces scrutiny over its performance, high-profile criminal investigations and implementation of its development agenda.
But whether the turnout for Weah represents a broader shift in Liberia’s political landscape remains unclear.
With three years remaining before the 2029 elections, Wednesday’s reception demonstrates Weah’s continuing ability to rally supporters, but the ultimate strength of both the opposition and the governing coalition will depend on political developments, government performance and voter sentiment leading up to the polls.
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