Monrovia – Tensions flared on Thursday as supporters of the opposition Unity Party (UP) clashed with alleged backers of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) during a campaign rally, leaving several UP supporters injured and prompting accusations of foul play.
The incident occurred as a convoy of UP supporters headed to the party’s campaign headquarters on the Airfield in District 9, aiming to kick off an event to announce their final campaign team. The UP alleges that a group of individuals wearing CDC insignia attacked some of their supporters, leading to a violent altercation that injured some of them.
Among the victims was Darius B. Rode, a 28-year-old UP supporter, who recounted the harrowing experience. “They held us hostage, chopped off my ear, and mercilessly attacked us,” Rode said. “Our belongings were stolen, and it was a nightmare.”
Rescue teams were eventually able to intervene, rushing the wounded to a nearby medical facility. The Unity Party blamed the CDC for the attack and for allegedly preventing UP’s standard bearer, Amb. Joseph Nyumah Boakai, from reaching the campaign headquarters. Boakai was reportedly delayed in traffic near the Ministerial Complex, leading to the cancellation of the event.
The Unity Party condemned the actions of the CDC and labeled them a “recipe for chaos.” They accused the ruling party of contravening the Farmington River Declaration, a pact signed by presidential candidates to ensure peaceful campaigning.
In response, the Weah-Taylor 2023 National Campaign Committee, representing the CDC, issued a statement denying the allegations. The committee clarified that their campaign activities had been pre-announced and were underway in other districts, well before the Unity Party’s event was planned.
The committee accused the Unity Party of deliberately scheduling their rally to provoke conflict and claimed they had adjusted their own campaign schedule to avoid clashes. They called on national and international bodies to intervene and ensure peaceful election proceedings.
Political tensions have been running high in Liberia as the country gears up for the upcoming elections. The clash at the Unity Party campaign rally highlights the fragility of the political landscape and raises concerns about potential unrest as the campaign season intensifies.
