“Erroneous And Incendiary Claims”–Acting President/Justice Minister Terms Fake Video; International Community Strongly Condemns Any Attempt Linking Them To Fake News

The Government of Liberia (GOL), through the Ministry of Justice, says its attention has been drawn to a malicious video being circulated on social media, which makes erroneous and incendiary claims about the state of affairs in the country.

   “While the recent uptick in political activities ahead of general and presidential elections is understandable, no amount of desperation should lead us to toy with our security,” the Acting Chair of the Cabinet,  Justice Minister Frank Musa Dean, has said.

   Minister Dean warned that engaging in false news with a clear intent to incite and create agitation in the general population is against the law and, therefore, anyone found fermenting or sponsoring activities intended to create chaos could face the full weight of the law.

   A video accusing President George Weah of attempting to rig the 2023 general and presidential elections has recently gone viral on social media, linking the leak of the information to the international community in Liberia.

   An unidentified individual who appeared as a news presenter, said, “The international community has uncovered a very dangerous plot by George Weah to win the next election by rigging it in order to remain in power, and will do it by any means necessary.

   “With less than 600 soldiers in the national army, Weah has raised a secret and very dangerous militia, filled with the worst criminals recruited from Buku Haram and Al-Qa’eda. These mercenaries are fully armed and ready to destroy Weah’s opposition. They are being well-funded with the new missing money—billions was printing and stolen over the last couple of years. This include the L$8 billion printed early this year in 2022 alone. This terrorist group is made up of foreigners from Jamaica,  Burkina Faso, Middle East and Nigeria. Locally, they’ve also recruited and trained ATU rebels of former warlord Taylor through Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Koijee.  

   “Unfortunately for the Grand Gedeans, their county is being used as training base, without their citizens’ knowledge. At the time of this report, there have been many pleads for help, but the government has refused to help. Investigation confirmed that the militias are currently using Doe’s compound in Zwedru for secret meetings and storing large weaponry without the family’s knowledge.”

   However, Acting President/Minister of Justice, Cllr. Dean, said the video does not only “cast aspersions on our enviable electoral system, which has gained much international acclaim recently, it also dangerously posited that the government is bringing in the country nefarious elements intended to create violence.”

      This, the Minister said, is very wrong,  and could potentially damage the country’s stability and international reputation.

   The Justice Minister has therefore engaged Liberia’s international partners, including the heads of the embassies of the U.S. and European Union, calling on them to vehemently condemn the dangerous and inciteful ploy which seeks to undermine Liberia’s hard-earned peace.

   He said the onus is upon the international community to debunk this creeping menace as the particular video in question directly alleges that it was they [the international community] who uncovered a plot.

   “The government wants to make it absolutely clear that it will leave no stone unturned in its determination to protect the country’s peace and security,” Minister Dean said sternly.

   Meanwhile, in a joint statement, the international community stated that the social media video recently circulated referring to the them is fake and has no connection to the global community.

   “The International Community in Liberia wishes to state categorically that the statements contained in the piece have no connection with the international community in Liberia, nor are we aware of any basis for any allegation contained in this piece.

   “We strongly condemn any attempt to link the international community with these allegations which could threaten and undermine national security. We stress that those responsible must be held accountable.

   “We once again remind all political and media stakeholders of their responsibility to refrain from hate speech, disinformation and violence, especially in the run-up to the 2023 elections,” the international community’s statement read.

   The international community in Liberia further reaffirmed its continued commitment to peace and stability in Liberia.