MONROVIA – The Monrovia City Mayor and Secretary General for the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, Jefferson Koijee, has termed the US sanctions against him as the biggest conspiracy among all the accusations that have come forth his way.
By J. H. Webster Clayeh, [email protected]
On December 8, 2023, the Secretary General of the Coalition for Democratic Change was sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), the United States Treasury, for alleged involvement in human rights abuses.
“Koijee is accused of stoking violence and controlling paramilitary-style organizations associated with the CDC. These groups, according to OFAC, allegedly comprised former combatants and recently released prisoners and are believed to have violently disrupted government critics’ demonstrations and opposition activities,” the release from OFAC says.
It added: “Koijee is also implicated in various instances of violence, including an opposition rally in July 2022, a memorial service for former President Amos Sawyer in March 2022, an anti-rape protest in August 2020, a student graduation ceremony in December 2019, and an opposition rally in November 2018. Koijee is also accused of engaging in corrupt acts, including bribery and misappropriation of state assets for private political movements. OFAC sanctioned him under Executive Order 13818 for serious human rights abuses and corruption.”
However, addressing Liberians at the Center for the Exchange of Intellectual Opinions on Carey Street in Central Monrovia on Monday, December 11, 2023, Koijee says OFAC’s sanction is the biggest of all lies told against him.
According to Koijee, President George Weah is awarded, adding that the CDC and the Liberian government will soon speak regarding the situation.
“Everybody is telling me, ‘What about the biggest conspiracy? What about the sanction?’ Let me say to you and not be disrespectful to you: I belong to an institution. His Excellency President George Weah received the news and he was devastated, so he cut short his trip and came yesterday evening. Officially, the party will be stating out its position, and the government will also state her position,” Koijee said.
He added: “While we wait for those two major positions, we can safely say to you, our people, that we are victims of sustained malicious propaganda that consummated into what is known as a sanction.”
According to Koijee, he sees the sanction against him as a means to keep him out of politics, something he dares not to do.
“We can say to them clearly that if this was a tactic of intimidation, if it was a tactic to break us down, we want to say, try harder because we have gotten more invigorated, stimulated, and prepared for what may come. But we shall come to turn our back neither should we go down on our knees; we are prepared to stand up more than ever before,” CDC Secretary-General said.
He added: “We will speak officially; we will address our conspirators. Whatever it is, we will not keep it hanging. It will be dealt with decisively. We want to say to the Liberian people to remain calm until the party can speak. Do not get into an action that we did not approve.”
“We want to say to you, remain calm because we can certainly assure you that we are innocent about everything they have said about us. Because we are the children of God, we believe that God shall never fail us,” he stressed.