
Monrovia – Panoramic Justice Group has called on Chairman Christopher H. Smith of the Subcommittee on Africa to convene a congressional hearing in response to alarming human rights abuses in Liberia under President Joseph N. Boakai’s administration.
By Willie N. Tokpah, [email protected]
In an appeal to the U.S. House of Representatives, through a letter dated January 24, 2025, Dr. D. Garage, Executive Director of Panoramic Justice Group, expressed deep concern about the growing trend of human rights violations in Liberia, including torture, illegal detention, and extraordinary renditions
The group’s report, which highlights these abuses, claims that the Boakai administration is increasingly replacing democratic institutions with security forces that perpetuate authoritarian practices.
The letter, which was submitted along with the group’s detailed investigative report, underscores the significant role the United States has played in supporting Liberia’s post-war recovery and democratic development.
However, Panoramic Justice Group warns that these gains are now under threat as the Boakai administration allegedly uses U.S. aid and infrastructure to fuel the abuses the U.S. has worked to prevent.
“These troubling findings suggest that Liberia is sliding toward authoritarianism, putting at risk the country’s hard-won progress and its reputation as a model of democracy in West Africa,” Dr. Garage wrote.
He further expressed that the U.S. must act decisively to prevent Liberia from regressing into a police state.
Among the most disturbing allegations in the report are claims of extraordinary renditions, where Liberian citizens are purportedly handed over to foreign entities or groups, often in exchange for money or favours, in direct violation of their basic rights.
These actions, the report claims, are part of a broader trend of political repression that could dismantle Liberia’s democratic institutions and the freedoms it has enjoyed for decades.
The Panoramic Justice Group has urged Chairman Smith to use his leadership role to convene a congressional hearing that will provide an opportunity to fully investigate these violations.
The hearing, they argue, will be crucial in informing U.S. policy on how to best support Liberia’s democratic recovery and prevent further abuse.
“The U.S. has invested billions in Liberia’s stability and democracy. We can not allow these gains to be undone,” the letter concludes.
“Your leadership is essential to ensuring that Liberia’s future remains anchored in democracy and the rule of law.”
As concerns over the situation in Liberia grow, the international community, particularly the United States, is being urged to take swift action to address the deteriorating human rights situation before Liberia’s future as a democratic state is irreversibly compromised.