Describes Current President Boakai’s Gov’t Action As ‘Politically Motivated And Tyrannical’
FLASHBACK: Ex-President George Manneh Weah at one of his CDC rallies
Following my engagements, I shall return to Liberia to rally the CDC along with all well-meaning Liberians to resist this tyrannical attempt to trample upon our burgeoning democracy, using all political and legal means guaranteed to us under our constitution.
By Our Staff Writer
Speaking from abroad on Wednesday, Former Liberian President George Manneh Weah has strongly condemned the government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for arresting and charging his former Vice President Juwel Howard-Taylor on allegation of being linked to the international narcotic network, in the wake of nearly US$350 million cocaine bust.
In recent weeks, a number of persons (both Liberian citizens and foreign nationals) have been arrested and charged with being linked to what is said to be this West African county’s biggest cocaine seizure, which has continued to generate huge public debate.
In a statement, ex-President Weah defended his former VP, indicated that Madam Taylor is not involved in narcotic business but that she “has become the latest victim of these rising authoritarian tendencies—which have historically plunged societies, including ours, into chaos”.
Yesterday, August 19, 2026, the government through Justice Minister, Cllr. Oswald Tweh confirmed the arrest and formal charging of the former Vice President for alleged connection to international narcotic trafficking based on evidence gathered from investigations.
“Following investigative procedures and a review of evidence presented by the Joint National Security Investigative Team, she has been charged with the following offenses:
UNDER THE CONTROLLED DRUG AND SUBSTANCE ACT OF 2023
- Violation of Section 14.83: Unlicensed Importation of a Controlled Drug or Substance;
- Violation of Section 14.85: Unlicensed Sale, Trading, Administration, Dispensation, Delivery, Distribution, Dispatch in Transit and Transportation of a Controlled Drug or Substance; and
- Violation of Section 14.93: Illicit Trafficking of a Controlled Drug or Substance,” said a
Justice Ministry statement. Liberian Gov’t Confirms Ex-VP Jewel Taylor Arrested & “Formally Charged”, Allegedly Linked To “Transnational Narcotic Trafficking Network” – News Public Trust
But former President Weah, the international football icon-turned politician and leader of the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) party, has vowed to resist what he called, “the continuous use of extrajudicial powers by President Joseph Boakai to trample upon the constitutional rights of Liberians who hold opposing views”.
The Boakai government has not yet reacted to the scathing criticisms from the former Liberian leader who left office almost three years ago (January 2024), after he and his CDC party lost the October 2023 election won by current President Boakai and his Unity Party (UP).
BELOW IS FULL TEXT OF FORMER PRESIDENT WEAH’S STATEMENT:
Statement By H.E. GEORGE MANNEH WEAH
Former President of the Republic of Liberia &
Political Leader of the Congress for Democratic Change
August 19, 2026
Fellow Liberians,
What we all witnessed today has further revealed the extent of our democratic decline in the last few years, marked by the continuous use of extrajudicial powers by President Joseph Boakai to trample upon the constitutional rights of Liberians who hold opposing views.
As you may know by now, former Vice President Jewel Howard Taylor has become the latest victim of these rising authoritarian tendencies—which have historically plunged societies, including ours, into chaos. While we support all legal and judicious efforts to rid Liberia of the current drug epidemic, we condemn attempts to use this crisis to score political points.
Today, without any prior notice, the former Vice President was unlawfully prevented from traveling, in violation of her constitutional right to free movement, and was subsequently harassed and detained. I have since spoken to the former Vice President, who has vehemently, strenuously and categorically denied all the politically motivated allegations being made against her by the Boakai administration.
In a government statement today, the Justice Minister read out blanket accusations without providing any supporting explanation of how they were formulated.
This action by the government comes after two major drug(Cocaine) discoveries amounting to nearly half a billion dollars, which officials themselves have admitted were brought into Liberia after we had peacefully handed over power to the Boakai administration.
Rather than treating the investigation with the degree of diligence and urgency it deserves, the government has instead sought to fabricate and concoct connections to the CDC administration, while giving a slap on the wrist to its own government and security officials – many of whom still roam the streets despite being named and accused as true perpetrators.
We have continued engagements with several regional and continental leaders to again iterate and underscore to them, how the rule of law and democracy in Liberia is being systematically undermined, and how grave a danger such action poses to our peace and security.
Despite a peaceful democratic transition, President Boakai seeks to rule as a tyrant. This we must all resist.
Following my engagements, I shall return to Liberia to rally the CDC along with all well-meaning Liberians to resist this tyrannical attempt to trample upon our burgeoning democracy, using all political and legal means guaranteed to us under our constitution.
God Bless Liberia
George Manneh Weah, Sr.