Liberia: “Conspiracy”

Jefferson Koijee, the Monrovia City Mayor and secretary general of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), has responded to the recent U.S. government sanctions by calling them a “conspiracy intended to witch hunt Liberians.”

Koijee said that the US government’s action will not in any way subdue him, as he is innocent of the crimes that he is being accused of.

Koijee made these comments during a visit to the Center for the Exchange of Intellectual Opinions (CEIO). The sanctions were imposed on Koijee for allegedly instigating violence and controlling paramilitary-style organizations associated with the CDC.

According to the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), Koijee has been designated for his reputation for stoking violence and his influence over Monrovia’s youth. OFAC said it has reason to believe that Koijee has instructed these organizations to disrupt demonstrations conducted by government critics or political opposition.

“Today OFAC designated Jefferson Koijee (Koijee), who is the mayor of Monrovia, Liberia, and is a senior leader in the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) political party,” the Treasury Department’s OFAC announcement, released on December 8, said. “Koijee has a reputation for stoking violence and has a powerful grip on Monrovia’s youth. He controls paramilitary-style organizations associated with the CDC, which allegedly recruits ex-combatants and recently released prisoners. OFAC has reason to believe that Koijee has instructed these organizations to violently disrupt demonstrations conducted by government critics or political opposition.”

Koijee addressed a crowd and expressed his concerns about the sanctions, stating that both the Weah government and the CDC party would publicly respond to the U.S. government's actions. He emphasized that they consider themselves victims of sustained malicious propaganda, which has now culminated in the form of sanctions.

“We can safely say to you, we are innocent; we do not see this position as a position; we see it as a way to witch hunt Liberians,” he said yesterday when he visited the Center for the Exchange of Intellectual Opinions (CEIO).  

Koijee, a known powerful figure within the CDC government, has often acted as the spokesperson for the Weah administration, responding to propaganda against the government. He assured the crowd that they are not backing down in the face of these sanctions, and the party is prepared to stand up and address their alleged conspirators.

He also mentioned that the party will wait to make an official statement before taking further action.