Ex-Mayor of Monrovia writes U.S. President Donald Trump, seeking his intervention in Liberia.
Monrovia, Liberia, March 7, 2025—Jefferson T. Koijee, Former Mayor of Monrovia and current Secretary General of the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), writes to U.S. President Donald Trump, calling on him to stand with the people of Liberia in tackling corruption, human rights violations, and democratic erosion.
In his letter dated February 26, 2025, to the U.S. President, Koijee also pleads with Trump to reconsider the planned deportation of 1,563 Liberians currently residing in the United States. He notes that many of those Liberians fled political persecution and violence back home and have contributed immensely to the U.S. economy and Liberia’s development through remittances.
“Deporting them under President Boakai’s regime—marked by widespread rape, murder, and economic collapse—would endanger their lives and devastate their families”, he laments.
He reminds President Trump of his previous policies on Liberia that, according to him, demonstrated a commitment to protecting Liberians, including his 2018 extension of Deferred Enforced Departure (DED) and the 2019 enactment of the Liberian Refugee Immigration Fairness (LRIF) provision, pleading, “A similar act of compassion today would strengthen U.S.-Liberia relations and safeguard thousands of vulnerable individuals.”
Turning to the current state of affairs in the country, he outlines a plethora of issues, including misuse of U.S. foreign aid that he says has led to deep social and political crises. He cites the government’s alleged cancelation of a $17 million tax advisory project and lack of proper accountability for US$1.5 million allocated by USAID for voter confidence.
“President Joseph Boakai has consistently violated our nation’s laws, undermining democratic accountability and the very foundations on which our democracy was built.”
Koijee also accuses Boakai of orchestrating a legislative coup d’état by using state resources to remove a legally elected Speaker, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa, in an effort to consolidate control over the Legislature and interfere with fiscal policy.
He notes that Boakai Administration is operating a treasonable budget, one that was not signed by the duly elected Speaker, thereby eliminating necessary checks and balances in governance.
He points to Article 76, Section 5 of the Liberian Constitution that defines treasonable acts as, “Abrogating or attempting to abrogate, subverting or attempting or conspiring to subvert the Constitution by use of force or show of force or any other means which attempts to undermine this Constitution.”
According to him, human rights violations under the government have reached an unprecedented level, with over one hundred reported deaths in just one year, saying “These deaths stem from state-sponsored persecution, sodomy, gang rape, police brutality, and ritualistic killings. Despite these grave atrocities, the President has failed to reconcile our nation, exacerbating Liberia’s deep wounds and hindering collective national development and peace.”
The CDC national scribe continues that the President has also engaged in political harassment against institutions and individuals who express dissent, recalling that on August 5 and 22, 2024, police violently invaded the headquarters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), attacking peaceful citizens and causing over $50,000 in property damage.
He notes that President Boakai instructed the Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia to deploy soldiers at the Roberts International Airport to prevent former President George Weah from accessing the VIP Lounge upon his arrival. “This act of state-sanctioned intimidation nearly resulted in an assassination attempt on former President Weah on June 6, 2024. Additionally, Liberians who welcomed Weah on this day were brutally assaulted.”
He says the President has also influenced arbitrary dismissal of numerous employees at the Monrovia City Government that he (Koijee) once headed, for simply expressing their grievances on social media, which he describes as clear violation of their constitutional rights.
On alleged corruption, Koijee details that when President Boakai took office with his “Rescue Mission,” the President pledged to fight corruption and uphold good governance, but according to him, this administration has become a hub of financial misconduct, citing notable cases such as
US$2.3 million in unaccounted miscellaneous expenses; US$15 million in off-budget expenditures; US$100,000 transferred onto the President’s personal debit card for unauthorized transactions; US$374,239.24 paid to former Central Bank Governor Aloysius Tarlue, to coerce his resignation, and US$75,000 allocated for a $45,000 vehicle for the National Oil Company of Liberia’s CEO, Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, inflating costs through fraud.
The President immediately suspended CEO Rustonlyn Suacoco Dennis, following a recommendation by the Board, pending investigation.
“Despite these glaring cases of corruption, millions of Liberians lack access to clean drinking water, electricity, employment, and healthcare. Given this level of mismanagement, Liberia is unprepared to handle direct foreign aid under President Boakai. A full-scale investigation into previous USAID grants to Liberia is necessary, particularly the $1.5 million allocated for voter confidence”, Koijee recommends in his communication to President Trump.
He notes that, as a former Mayor of Monrovia, he had previously warned the U.S. government that USAID funds were being used to manipulate electoral integrity. Evidence has since emerged that the Election Coordinating Committee (ECC), which received these funds, was actively colluding with the ruling Unity Party.
“USAID’s unwavering support for the ECC, as expressed by Ms. Catherine Rodriguez, was an unacceptable intrusion into Liberia’s political system”, he argues.
He applauds the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency under Billionaire Elon Musk for exposing corruption within USAID and in countries like Liberia while stressing that investigating foreign aid misuse is a necessary step toward accountability and reform to ensure that American taxpayer’s money is used appropriately.
Koijee lauds President Trump for restoring the image of the Holy Bible in the White House and across America, adding that establishment of the Faith Advisory Council is a monumental step in preserving religious freedom and combatting radical gender ideologies.
“Your leadership in this area mirrors the biblical role of Cyrus, the Persian ruler who liberated the Jews from Babylon”, he tells Trump.
