MONROVIA, LIBERIA – Former Commerce Minister Amin Modad’s scathing Facebook post on Tuesday, May 27, directed at Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, is more than just a political jab. It is a pointed indictment of the growing culture of selective outrage, political hypocrisy, and personal vendettas that now shape Liberia’s political discourse. At the heart of this latest clash is not just bruised ego or damaged reputation, but an emerging pattern of toxic politicking that threatens the very ideals of governance and democracy that Liberians continue to strive for.
Modad’s statement was deeply personal and passionately political. In his post, he questioned Snowe’s sudden sensitivity to public backlash following a controversial statement allegedly made by the senator. “Is it really you screaming foul and concerned public reactions to your statement?” Modad asked rhetorically, before recalling the time when his own family was reportedly threatened after what he described as “malicious stories” were spread about him, allegedly by Senator Snowe. According to Modad, that smear campaign led to an attack on his wife’s vehicle, a moment he implies was met with silence and indifference from the senator.
Now, as Snowe seeks to clear his name from what he considers a baseless government accusation, Modad calls him out for his apparent double standards. “How can anyone pray for any administration’s failure as if the impact would be exclusive or selective?” Modad demanded. This line draws a deeper question: in a country like Liberia, where progress is already fragile and institutions remain under strain, what does it mean when political leaders, intentionally or not, flirt with rhetoric that could be interpreted as undermining the state?
Snowe, for his part, issued a firm rebuttal to the Ministry of Information’s accusations. While attending an ECOWAS mission in Sweden, he learned of a press statement suggesting he made destabilizing remarks, an allegation he said amounts to nothing less than treason. Snowe didn’t mince words. He called the government’s statement “baseless, malicious, and politically motivated,” and warned that such a move sets a dangerous precedent. He also described it as part of a broader strategy of political intimidation and suppression of dissent. In protest, Snowe prematurely ended his ECOWAS assignment and announced his return to Liberia to address the matter head-on, while urging international bodies to closely monitor what he described as a “calculated and malicious smear campaign.”
This incident is disturbing on multiple levels. If the government indeed acted on misinformation and falsely accused a sitting senator of treasonous conduct, then it has abused its authority in a way that chills free expression and political participation. But at the same time, if Snowe did in fact issue statements that could be construed as wishing for the government’s downfall, then that, too, is reckless, especially coming from someone who holds both national and regional leadership roles.
Yet beyond the claims and counterclaims, the larger issue is the deepening trust deficit among Liberia’s political elite. The toxic cycle of accusation, retaliation, and political theater leaves the public in a fog of confusion and distrust. As politicians trade personal insults and seek international sympathies, the average Liberian continues to face an economy in crisis, crumbling infrastructure, and unreliable public services.
What Liberia needs now is not tit-for-tat disputes or social media showdowns, but serious, principled leadership. Leaders must model accountability, transparency, and maturity, not pettiness, grievance, and calculated outrage. If public servants are serious about defending democracy, they must stop treating every critique as sabotage and every disagreement as betrayal.
The animosity between Modad and Snowe is emblematic of a larger national problem: politics defined not by competing ideas, but by personality clashes and vengeance. It is this very environment that deters young, well-meaning Liberians from entering public service, and it is this same environment that corrodes confidence in government.
Senator Snowe deserves a fair process to address any accusation levied against him. But he must also recognize that leadership demands consistency, the same moral outrage he seeks now must be applied when others, including political opponents, face unjust treatment. Likewise, Modad’s appeal for civility and national unity must not only emerge in response to his own victimhood but become a standard he upholds at all times.
Liberia cannot afford to be governed by wounded pride and political vendettas. If leaders like Snowe and Modad are truly invested in the country’s progress, they must put personal grievances aside and embrace the hard, often thankless task of building a stable and democratic nation.
