Street peddlers protest here, demanding right to ply their trade.
By Stephen G. Fellajuah
Monrovia, Liberia; September 18, 2025 – A powerful wave of frustration swept through Central Monrovia on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, as dozens of displaced petty traders, mostly young women, took to the streets in protest, demanding the right to return to their selling spaces.
Chanting “We want to sell; hopojo na get money!”, the peddlers converged around Mechlin and Ashmun Streets, central Monrovia, voicing their anger over recent crackdown by the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) and the Liberia National Police (LNP). The joint operation forcibly removed street vendors from key areas of the capital, stretching from Mechlin Street down to the Waterside General Market.
The protest wasn’t just about stalls; it was about survival. “We want freedom!” The women shouted.
“We want to sell to support our livelihood. We don’t want to prostitute for survival,” one protester added.
City authorities defended the operation as part of an urban renewal effort aimed at improving sanitation and easing traffic congestion. But for the vendors, the move stripped them of their only means to feed their families, pay rent, and send children to school.
In a bold and unified chant, the protesters questioned national leadership: “President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, where are the jobs you promised as part of your 2023 campaign messages?”
Their cry for help reached Representative Emmanuel Dahn of the ruling Unity Party, who represents Montserrado County District #7, who visited the demonstration site and assured traders of an interim solution.
“Beginning tomorrow, you will have the chance to sell,” Rep. Dahn told the crowd.
“The City Police Director will come to put you back, but with a demarcation. I think negotiation is a give-and-take. You will be strategically placed back to your spots.”
The announcement was met with joyful cheers and applause from the women.
“Our pa, thank you!” they exclaimed.
Rep. Dahn, accompanied by Monrovia City Police officers, toured the cleared areas prior to speaking to the press. He emphasized that while the temporary return of traders was a step forward, his office was working toward a long-term plan to address the broader concerns.
“This is not just about today,” he said. “We’re working on a lasting solution that balances order and economic opportunity.”
Key aspects of the proposal include clean and organized selling zones, preserved pedestrian access, and improved waste management.
Still, for many vendors, the emotional and economic toll of the last month has not been forgotten. A sense of betrayal by national leadership was evident in the words of one frustrated woman:
“Where is President Joseph Nyuma Boakai? Is this the job he promised us, by taking us out of business? I want to cater to myself and my children.”
The protest follows a citywide enforcement of a no-street-selling policy, carried out by the Monrovia City Police in collaboration with the Liberia National Police. Though aimed at restoring order in the capital, the policy has drawn harsh criticism for lacking inclusivity and offering no alternative solutions for informal vendors.
As pressure builds, the vendors’ demand remains as clear and heartfelt as their chants: Let us trade in peace, and let us live with dignity, they voiced.
With livelihoods on the line and public scrutiny mounting, the Monrovia City Corporation and national government are now under intense pressure to find a fair and lasting solution for the thousands who depend on the informal economy to survive. Editing by Jonathan Browne
