—— Warns Against Relying on U.S. and Europe ahead o 2029
IPNEWS: Former Finance Minister Samuel D. Tweah Jr. has delivered a blunt assessment of Liberia’s opposition, describing the collective opposition as “miserable” and warning that political forces in the country cannot depend on the United States or Europe to fight their political battles.
Tweah’s remarks come amid heightened political tensions surrounding President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration and the government’s ongoing investigations into major cocaine seizures in Liberia.
“We have so far been miserable as a collective opposition,” Tweah declared.
Addressing the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) and other opposition forces, he added: “To the CDC and members of the opposition, we cannot depend on the Americans and Europeans to fight for the opposition.”
The former finance minister’s comments amount to a sharp challenge to the opposition to take greater responsibility for organizing, mobilizing and advancing its political agenda rather than expecting foreign governments to lead efforts against the ruling establishment.
Tweah, a senior figure in the former CDC-led administration, has increasingly spoken out on Liberia’s political and security developments. His latest remarks come at a particularly sensitive moment, as the country remains embroiled in controversy over the government’s handling of its expanding drug investigations.
The former minister had, only days earlier, called for international support and scrutiny in investigating Liberia’s major drug seizures. His latest comments, however, appear to draw a distinction between seeking international assistance in a criminal investigation and relying on foreign governments to wage a domestic political struggle.
The distinction could become an important part of the growing debate over the role Liberia’s international partners should play as the cocaine controversy continues to generate political and public pressure.
The government has faced growing criticism over its handling of the investigations, particularly following the arrest, detention and questioning of prominent figures linked to the opposition. Opposition leaders have accused the Boakai administration of using the drug investigation for political purposes, allegations the government has rejected.
Former President George Manneh Weah has also intensified his criticism of the administration and vowed to mobilize Liberians against what he describes as increasingly authoritarian actions by the Unity Party-led government.
Against that backdrop, Tweah’s remarks place the burden of political resistance firmly on Liberia’s opposition.
His message is that international partners may assist Liberia in areas such as criminal investigations, institutional accountability and the fight against transnational drug trafficking, but they cannot substitute for an organized and effective domestic opposition.
The statement could also expose growing differences within opposition circles over strategy, particularly over how much pressure should be directed toward international partners and how much should come from domestic political mobilization.
With the 2029 presidential contest already beginning to shape political calculations, Tweah’s criticism raises a broader question about whether Liberia’s opposition has the organization, unity and political strategy necessary to effectively challenge the ruling Unity Party.
For Tweah, the answer so far appears to be no.
His warning is unequivocal: Liberia’s opposition cannot expect Americans or Europeans to fight its political battles.
The responsibility, he argues, rests with Liberians themselves
