IPNEWS: Security was heavily tightened at the Monrovia Central Prison (South Beach) in Monrovia, as former President George Weah arrived to visit his detained former Vice President, Jewel Howard-Taylor.
The high-profile visit sparked brief unrest and logistical clashes at the facility:
The Liberia National Police (LNP) deployed a large contingent of officers, including personnel in full riot gear, barricading entrances and tightly controlling movement around the prison grounds.
Tensions briefly flared and a physical scuffle broke out at the main entrance between state police officers and members of Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) VIP security detail. The confrontation erupted after state security allowed Weah’s primary vehicle inside but denied entry to his security backup vehicle.
Hundreds of passionate CDC partisans and supporters gathered outside the prison gates. They cheered, chanted slogans, and expressed solidarity with Howard-Taylor, who faces serious state charges including drug trafficking and money laundering.
Meanwhile, severe tension erupted Thursday at the entrance of the Monrovia Central Prison in Liberia as state security forces clashed with the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) VIP security team ahead of a high-profile prison visit by former President George Weah. Reports indicate that while a massive crowd of CDC partisans gathered outside the facility, they did not “storm” or breach the prison itself; rather, a direct security confrontation took place at the entrance gates over access control and security protocol.
Former President George Weah had earlier announced a visit to the prison to check on detained political figures, including former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor and four lawmakers.
Disagreements broke out between Liberia’s state security personnel and the CDC’s private VIP security detail regarding who would manage access and protocols at the prison gates. State security maintained physical control of the perimeter and reinforced their presence, deploying heavy security and military units around the area.
Hundreds of vocal CDC supporters (“CDCians”) mobilized outside the prison to chant slogans and show solidarity with Weah and the detained party leadership.
Despite the gate standoff, inside sources confirmed that Weah successfully entered the facility to meet with the lawmakers, promising that the CDC would stand by them through their judicial process. He departed the prison premises a few hours later amid cheers from his base.
