Monrovia– President Joseph Boakai has urged Liberians to reject mob justice and raise public awareness against mob violence. He emphasized that violence is not the solution and called for a recommitment to the rule of law.
By Jaheim T. [email protected]
The occasion marked the official launch of the “National Anti-Mob Justice Dialogue,” which seeks to prevent Liberians from taking the law into their own hands by inflicting violence or punishment on an individual accused of wrongdoing, often bypassing formal legal processes.
In his remarks, Boakai frowned on the growing trend of mob violence in the country, stating that lawlessness threatened the nation’s integrity and eventually scared potential investors.
Boakai emphasized that Liberians have yet to learn coexistence, highlighting the importance of living in harmony and avoiding issues that stir violence and harm others.
Said Boakai, “We cannot create jobs when you’re driving the job creators away by your act. It doesn’t work that way. They may be small, but they can cause investors to run away. They can cause people to disrespect their country. They can cause people to feel insecure because they will say Liberia is not a country that is disciplined.”
“We must learn to live with each other. We beat people sometimes for the wrong reasons—and when that happens, we all lose. We must teach discipline and guide our communities to choose law over vengeance.”
He challenged the motorcyclists, and other Liberians to do things rightfully and trust the police in discharging their function. However, they called the police to ensure citizens’ rights were respected.
“We’re with you to make sure that this message goes to every corner of this country. But at the same time, we have to tell our police and our people to respect the people. Not because people are riding motorcycles.”
Boakai emphasized that challenges within the justice system should not become a license for lawlessness while calling Liberians to raise awareness for reform and accountability rather than resort to violence.
“We know the justice system has problems. But we won’t solve them by becoming gangsters. Violence doesn’t fix broken institutions—it only breaks the country more.”
Giving the overview earlier, Minister of Justice, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh described mob violence as malice to the country’s democracy and rule of law.
He narrated the recent surge in mob-related incidents, including deadly attacks in Weala and Paynesville, which resulted in tragic loss of lives and destruction of property.
Tweh noted that such acts of vigilante justice severely undermine public confidence in state institutions and endanger Liberia’s long-term stability.
“We gather at a pivotal moment in our nation’s journey, where the specter of mob violence casts a long shadow over the fundamental tenets of our democracy,” Tweh said.
“With grave concern, we have witnessed a stark increase in mob violence that threatens the very fabric of our communities and jeopardizes the security and well-being of our dear people.”
Adding, “Let me make it unequivocally clear: Mob violence is a serious crime that threatens the very essence of democracy and societal order. “We cannot, and we will not turn a blind eye to the lawlessness that has begun to take root in our neighborhoods.”
He explained that the campaign is to ensure the public uses proper legal channels in the pursuit of justice and to assist foster a secure environment for economic growth.
“We are launching this campaign to empower our citizens to seek justice through lawful means—no longer resorting to vigilantism or mob justice,” he emphasized.
He pledged that the government would confront these root causes through partnerships with civil society groups, local leaders, the Liberia Motorcycle Union, and the Federation of Liberian Youth.
Accordingly, he said these activities would be conducted through workshops, radio talk shows and town hall-style dialogues designed to raise awareness and counter misconceptions about justice and legal recourse.
“We must choose dialogue over destruction, understanding over hostility, and action grounded in justice over reckless abandon of mob rule. Every act of mob violence not only inflicts harm on innocent lives but also erodes the trust and safety that are essential for a thriving society.”
In a brief remark, Foreign Affairs Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti commended MOJ for the initiative violence, emphasizing the importance of the campaign in the context of Liberia’s broader healing and development journey.
She stressed that Liberia’s persistent struggle with mob justice is not merely a failure of the judicial system, but also a reflection of deeper societal breakdowns at the family level, in communities, and across generations.
