A famous idiom says, “Some things are better left unsaid; this is because when some things are said, it either angers the other person or lands the speaker in trouble.” This is exactly the case with some supporters of the George M. Weah administration, who have threatened to run the United States ambassador out of little Monrovia.
On Wednesday, November 16, 2022, the New Democrat reported that pro-government protesters were threatening to chase the US ambassador to Liberia, Michael McCarthy, out Liberia for allegedly meddling in Liberian politics and projecting a climate favorable for an Alexander Cummings presidency.
The anonymous supporters, whose plans were made known on a talk show moderated by Winston Blyden on Bana F.M., a radio station owned by Montserrado County’s district #15 Representative, Abu Bana Kamara, who contested and won on the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) ticket, said they were tired with Ambassador McCarthy’s alleged threat posed to the Weah administration, claiming that the US envoy is against the Weah government.
They also claimed that the Chinese government has been doing well for Liberia, unlike the US government, which they say is responsible for the civil wars that destroyed the country and caused the deaths of hundreds.
These threats are being made at a time the United States government has announced the Global Magnitsky sanctions on a few Liberian officials, with a warning that those still doing business with the sanctioned individuals risk being sanctioned.
Liberia was established by freed slaves brought back by the American Colonization Society (ACS) in 1822. Since then, the United States has had unrivaled contribution to the development of the country—building its first and only international airport, constructing the Freeport of Monrovia, contributing millions to its national budget, training the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) and supplying its needs, allocating funds through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) for the country’s development purposes, etc.
Pundits who spoke to the Hot Pepper over the matter have described the new trend of event as the beginning of the end. They say the United States of America is the most powerful country on Earth, and threatening to run their ambassador out is a dangerous statement to the welfare of a country once described as “insignificant” by former President George W. Bush, Jr.
According to them, this statement could cause the Americans to tighten the squeeze on the Weah government, if not orchestrate its downfall. They say the US has varied ways of constricting grips on Liberia, including withholding international partners’ support, as Liberia heavily depends on donor funds.
“Threatening to run the US ambassador is no fun. The US does not take these kinds of statement lightly,” a foreign relations pundit told this writer.
However, the Chairman of the CDC, Mulbah K. Morlu, has Firmly denied the claim that pro-government supporters are planning protest against Ambassador McCarthy, recognizing the ambassador’s continued positive role in improving relations between the CDC-led government and the government and people of the United States of America.
According to Morlu, “The Coalition for Democratic Change, irrespective of the political persuasions of the alleged masterminds of the outrageous utterances, condemns the verbal attacks against the United States Ambassador to Liberia, Michael McCarthy, and cautions all members of the CDC to take due cognizance and refrain from making comments considered reckless, offensive and unpatriotic.”
He said the CDC will never confront the United States of America in the conveyance of her official policies. “The CDC believes in tolerance, freedom of expression and will continue to uphold these cherished values irrespective of disagreements,” he emphasized.
Also, the government, through the Ministry of Information, denounced any action that will threaten violence or hurt the strong diplomatic and historic ties that exist between both nations, “and herewith distances itself from all such comments and intended actions”.
According to the release, while the Weah-led administration is an ardent promoter of free speech and freedom of the press, for which it has pushed through legislations to guarantee this fundamental right, there are clear safeguards intended to protect the public’s interest.
“The government therefore wants to make it categorically clear that it will not condone any such protest action and insolent comments, regardless who the organizers are, as its ultimate intention is to incite certain segments of the population for parochial reasons.
“Liberia has always welcomed alternative views on the state of governance of the country, including those from its international and diplomatic partners which have helped in improving the country’s democratic credentials. Therefore, the government sees any such protest or insolent comments against the U.S. diplomat as inimical to the national and international interests of Liberia.
“The government urges the media to help champion an all-inclusive approach towards the promotion of the concept of global governance, instead of serving as a conduit to rile up the public against well-intentioned international and diplomatic counsel about the governance issues of the country.”
But like the famous idiom says, “Some things are better left unsaid.”
Now that the US has hinted about additional sanctions anytime soon, and a vow to enforce the sanctions themselves, it could be said that the Weah regime is diving into its twilight.
It is no argument that Liberia is one of America’s major interests, for which it can go the extra mile to protect. Historians have accused operatives of the West of masterminding the downfall of the Samuel Doe administration for going against the US interest. At a giving point, ex-President Doe vowed to pay back all debts owed the American government and criticized US aid. His regime was short-lived and the rest is in the annals of history.
Similarly, the Charles Taylor regime forever remembers the wrath of the United States for going against its interest. After he was flown to Nigeria, ex-President Taylor said his greatest regret was going against the interest of “Uncle Sam”. Today, Taylor is languishing behind bars in The Hague.
The Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf administration danced to the tune, and today she is freely roaming, with her head high up at national and international levels.
The Weah administration is now on the spotlight. Whether it will end up similar to Doe and Taylor or have a happy ending like the Sirleaf administration strictly depends on the decisions it makes. It is however being speculated that the regime is at its point of dilemma, with the President holding the cards that would turn the game in his favor or against him.