STUDENT ACTIVISM HAS come under strong, drastic-measure criticism from the political opposition: Congress for Democratic Change-Council of Patriots (CDC-COP) has issued a strong demand to the University of Liberia (UL) President, Dr. Layli Maparyan, calling for the immediate expulsion of students allegedly involved in the recent violent attack at the Liberia Football Association (LFA) headquarters.
IN AN OFFICIAL letter addressed to Dr. Maparyan, CDC-COP National Chairman, Foday N. Massaquoi, and Secretary-General, Archie Tarnel Harris, described the March 2025 incident as a terroristic act orchestrated by gangster students, whose actions, they claim, have tarnished the university’s reputation.
ACCORDING TO THE CDC-COP, several UL students—including Stephen Brown, Momo Buttel, Christian Bryant, and Obadiah Jallah—were arrested by the Liberia National Police (LNP) and forwarded for prosecution on multiple charges, including criminal conspiracy, attempt to commit murder, reckless endangerment, aggravated assault, criminal mischief and rioting.
ALTHOUGH THE ACCUSED were released on bail, the University of Liberia has yet to take disciplinary action, prompting CDC-COP’s demand for immediate expulsion.
CITING RULE 7 of the University’s Student Handbook, which prohibits gangsterism, CDC-COP called on Dr. Maparyan to uphold disciplinary measures against students engaging in lawlessness. The movement accused her administration of failing to take decisive action, raising concerns that UL may become a breeding ground for violent student activism and political vandalism.
“DR. MAPARYAN, YOUR leadership is at a crossroads,” the letter states. “You have a duty to uphold the laws of the University and protect its reputation. The culture of impunity among students must end.”
BEYOND THE EXPULSION of individual students, the CDC-COP has called for the total disbandment of the Student Unification Party (SUP), the long-standing student political group at the University. According to the group, SUP has transformed into a violent organization, undermining national stability through radical political protests and vandalism.
“SUP HAS OUTLIVED its usefulness. It has become a tool of communist-inspired violence, disrupting academic freedom and posing a national security threat. It must be banned,” the letter argues.
CDC-COP HAS ESCALATED the matter by notifying international bodies, including the U.S. Embassy in Liberia, United Nations Human Rights Office, European Union Mission in Liberia, U.S. Department of State & Bureau of African Affairs, ECOWAS & African Union, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Center for Transparency and Accountability in Liberia (CENTAL).
