Man Arrested as Liberians Protest Economic Hardship

An unconfirmed report says the firearm in Zigbuo’s possession was marked with the code ‘NSA 020’.

Hundreds of angry citizens joined a protest in a suburb of Liberia’s capital on Saturday, protesting over economic hardships and President George Weah’s prolonged absence from the country.

Saturday’s rally in Monrovia’s Paynesville district was organised by a coalition of Liberia’s four largest opposition parties, but internal disputes led all but one, the Alternative National Congress (ANC), to withdraw at the last minute.

Many of the protesters wore shirts printed with the face of Alexander Cummings, who is challenging Weah for the presidency under the ANC flag ahead of a 2023 election. Some held banners reading “We are tired of suffering”.

“(The government) is unable to create jobs, yet the president abandoned his people,” said Prince Barclay, an electrical technician who said he was concerned about future prospects of his children.

Weah has been out of the country since the end of October, during which time he visited Qatar to watch his son, Timothy Weah, play for the U.S. team in the World Cup and attended a U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit in Washington. He is expected back on Monday.