Liberians rally in anti-government protest

Thousands of protesters in the Liberian capital Monrovia on Monday rallied against a deepening economic crisis in the impoverished country./ PHOTO: Christopher Kieh

Thousands of Liberians took to the streets of Monrovia on Monday to protest against the country's state of economy.

Organised by Liberia's Council of Patriots, an activist group led by a popular radio host, the demonstrations were a show of disenchantment with the economy which they say has caused them hardships in the impoverished country.

Riot police were deployed as a precaution to assure the safety of those demonstrating.

About3,000 people rallied outside Monrovia's Capitol buildingcarrying banners reading "March for Justice", while police diverted traffic from the city center.

The Western African nation is still traumatized by by back to back civil wars and the 2014 Ebolacrisis. Inflation is rampant, according to the World Bank, and civil servants regularly go unpaid.

President George Weah who took office in January 2018 was under growing pressure over his management of the crisis.

Henry Costa, chairman of the Council of Patriots a youth activist group, had originally arranged the protest for December 30, however it was called off after the government said it would not be able to provide security, and after international observers recommended postponement.

"I am right now in the streets, there are no guns, no police is chasing anybody," Costa posted on social media on Monday. "We have to make history."

Source(s): Deutsche Welle