A staunch supporter of the ruling Unity Party (UP) has not minced his words in condemnation of the recent brutal action by the Liberia National Police (LNP) against students of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) during the recent protest in Monrovia.
It can be recalled that students of the MCSS recently took to the streets of Monrovia in protest for their teachers’ salary payment, a situation they said had kept them out of the classrooms for two weeks.
But while venting out their grievances, several students were seen teargassed by the riot unit of the LNP, hence, Emmanuel Gonquoi, Commander-In-Chief of the Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL), condemned the police’s act of brutality against the students’ group.
Mr. Gonquoi’s EFFL was one of several political parties that supported the candidacy of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai during the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections but has since been vocal about the government’s act of lawlessness.
The EFFL head described the action perpetrated against the students as unjustified, reckless, and deeply troubling, stressing that this situation echoes the same brutal response to student protests during the administration of former President George Manneh Weah—a pattern that the EFFL) fiercely opposed.
According to him, the EFFL’s criticism of the Weah administration was not driven by political motives but by a sincere desire for system reforms and a more proactive approach to governance.
In defense of the students, Mr. Gonquoi contended that these young students were peacefully exercising their constitutional right to protest in clear and legitimate demands of access to education and fair treatment.
He pointed out that the students’ action was in accordance with Article 17 of the Liberian Constitution clearly states, and as such, and other action that tend to counter that is profoundly unjust and unacceptable to imagine that these students have no right to demand a better future through quality education.
“The MCSS students were not violent. They were not disruptive. They were not engaging in criminal activity. They were simply demanding answers and solutions to a long-standing problem—the failure of the Ministry of Education and other relevant authorities to address unpaid teacher salaries and the broader challenges facing the education sector,” he asserted.
“For weeks, teachers across MCSS have abandoned their classrooms due to unpaid salaries and a lack of any clear commitment from the government to address this crisis. Despite being fully aware of the situation, the Ministry of Education and other responsible agencies have remained silent and inactive. This silence and neglect of leadership responsibility is what forced these students to take to the streets.” The pro government group head also blamed the UP administration, thus on the inference that the government is irresponsible.
“A responsible government does not wait for its citizens to protest before acting. A proactive administration engages with its people, shares information, and takes decisive steps to address grievances before they escalate into a national crisis. Unfortunately, the current officials in the Unity Party (UP) Alliance are falling into the same pattern of inaction and neglect that characterized the previous CDC-led administration.”
“Let me be clear: some UP Alliance officials seem more focused on their titles and status than on the responsibilities that come with them. Leadership is not about sitting in air-conditioned offices—it’s about being on the ground, listening to the people, and solving problems. Ignoring these responsibilities creates the perception that the previous CDC government was more responsive, which is both disappointing and dangerous because CDC was a calamity in itself.”
Mr. Gonquoi indicated that the current Inspector General of the LNP and his leadership team have been professional in many respects; however; they blundered in handling the recent issue with the students.
“The officers under their control responded to a peaceful student protest with disproportionate force—tear gas, batons, and intimidation. How different are we from the previous administration if we are now brutalizing students—innocent children—for demanding their right to an education?
This is the same oppressive behavior we condemned under the CDC-led government. We fought against it then, believing that a new administration would bring meaningful change.”
“But how can we claim to be different when the same brutal tactics are being repeated under our watch? The Inspector General must ensure that the police are not used as instruments to cover up the failures of ministers and agency heads. When public institutions fail to perform, the solution is not to crush dissent but to engage in honest dialogue and take corrective action.”
He urged the Presidential advisers to step up and fulfill their duties, adding: “You are not just there for the title or to follow the President around like children seeking attention. Your role is to provide strategic advice, identify problems, and help resolve them.”
“Where were the advisers when teachers were not being paid? Where were they when students were forced to protest? Were they afraid to raise the issue with the President? The answer is no because the President can listen!
Leadership requires courage and accountability. Engage in dialogue when you hear people complaining, and report these issues to the President. That is your job as an adviser.”
Among other things, CIC Gonquoi maintains that the MCSS students’ protest reflects a larger governance failure for years that must be urgently addressed. “These students were not wrong for demanding their right to education—they were exercising their constitutional rights. The government’s response, through police brutality, was a mistake that must not be repeated.”
“Good governance requires listening, engaging, and acting in the best interest of the people. If this administration is truly committed to change, it must start by respecting the rights of its citizens and holding leaders accountable for their failures. This is the path toward a stronger, more just Liberia.”
