MONROVIA – The famous ‘sycamore tree’, known scientifically as Ficus sycomorus, is mentioned several times in the Bible, particularly in the New Testament. It symbolizes strength, stability, and refuge, often appearing in contexts of divine encounters.
Notably, in Luke 19:4, Zacchaeus, the tax collector, climbs a sycamore tree to see Jesus, illustrating his desire for spiritual connection. The sycamore tree is also referenced in 1 Kings 10:27, where it is described as abundant during King Solomon’s reign, highlighting its significance in the economy and daily life of ancient Israel.
Additionally, it is noted for its edible fruit, which resembles a fig, and its ability to thrive in arid conditions, symbolizing resilience and sustenance.
The word “sycamore” appears seven times in the Old Testament. The most important mention is, however, in Luke 19:4.
Sycamore comes from sykē (fig) and mora (a mulberry). There is no doubt that the tree is the sycamore fig, Ficus sycomorus, often called the fig-mulberry.
Because the branches of the sycamore-fig are strong and wide-spreading, and because it produces many lateral branches, it was an easy evergreen tree for Zacchaeus to climb, and in which he could easily be hidden.
It is a popular tree under which to pitch a tent, because of the ample shade it gives.
CDC and Its Sycamore Tree
To the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), a certain tree planted on the grounds of their now demolished headquarters on Congo Town, was dubbed a sycamore tree because it was under this tree that most partisans would converge to welcome new members and also discuss their political agendas when they were both in opposition and were a ruling party.
To CDCians, that tree symbolizes strength, stability, and refuge, often appearing in contexts of divine encounters to them. The tree is the famous, local tree that was brought in by the Liberia’s Forestry Development Authority (FDA) back in the day for reforestation purposes. The locals just refer to it as “FDA Tree.”
For decades CDCians held their former arena (headquarters) as sacred ground—the home of the ‘masses’, the refuge of the ‘downtrodden’, and the CDCians. On Saturday, August 23, 2025, CDCians witnessed court sheriffs backed by heavily armed police officers carried out an eviction and demolition order from the Sixth Judicial Circuit for the owners of the property to repossess their property after the court ruled in their favor.
Liberian police stormed the headquarters of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) early Saturday morning, enforcing the court eviction order that stripped the former ruling party of its longtime stronghold in Congo Town.
The operation followed an August 13 ruling by the Sixth Judicial Circuit Court, which awarded the 4.23-acre compound near Bernard’s Beach to the Intestate Estate of Martha Stubblefield Bernard. Judge George W. Smith ruled that the CDC had no legal claim to the property after reviewing deeds and boundaries, directing the Montserrado County Sheriff to carry out the eviction.
The Liberia National Police (LNP) said its role was to assist sheriffs in implementing the court’s mandate while maintaining calm. During the operation, police reported finding a pack of gun cartridges inside a building reportedly occupied by CDC Secretary General Jefferson T. Koijee, along with two rifles that some said are sniper guns, inside the premises.
On Friday, August 22, CDC Chairman Janga Augustus Kowo said the party had filed an appeal in two related cases before the Civil Law Court. “The case between the CDC and its landlord is a civil matter that is going through adjudication at the Liberian judiciary.” Kowo had said.
But Senator Augustine S. Chea, a CDC lawmaker, publicly urged the party to comply with the ruling. “Our party must peacefully vacate the Bernard estate,” Chea said. “Under Liberian law, the filing of a new suit does not automatically stay an eviction. Unless the Supreme Court grants a stay, the sheriff is legally authorized to act.”
Former President George Weah, the CDC’s political leader, called on members to accept the loss of the property and redirect their focus. “Allow the people do whatever they want with the building. Let us focus on building our new home, recalibrating, and getting prepared to take back power in 2029 with no exceptions,” Weah said.
The eviction delivers a symbolic blow to Liberia’s largest opposition party, which governed from 2018 to 2024 and now faces both legal battles and the challenge of regrouping ahead of the next election cycle as some of their “big guns” have resigned from the party.
In the eyes of CDC stalwart, Manja Varney Gbessay Kromah, the eviction of the CDC was carried out by people referred to as “oppressors”. “But let the oppressors know: they may bring down walls, but they cannot bring down the will of ‘gladiators’. They may break stones, but they cannot break the covenant between the CDC and the people. For this movement was never built of wood and iron—it was born in blood, sweat, sacrifice, and the burning spirit of resistance,” Manja Varney Gbessay Kromah posted on his Facebook page.
He further writes: “This defining hour is a call to arms—not of guns and blades, but of unity, vigilance, and unbending revolutionary discipline. Comrades, we must rise from the ashes of trial, seize the broken fragments of our struggle, and forge them into a weapon sharper and stronger than before. We must defend the honor of this party, not as passive spectators, but as active custodians of its destiny.
“No retreat! No surrender! No betrayal!
“Today, tomorrow, and forever—we stand as the vanguard of the Mighty CDC and the eternal defenders of the masses.”
Background
Back in May 2025, the Supreme Court reaffirmed its 2016 judgment ordering the removal of the CDC from that disputed piece of land hosting its headquarters. The Court dismissed a Bill of Information filed by the party and declared its legal strategy to delay the eviction as “preposterous,” “impermissible,” and a “legal charade.”
The legal wrangling over the land began when the Intestate Estate of Martha Stubblefield Bernard, represented by administrator Ebrima Varney Dempster, filed an action of ejectment in 2014 against the Intestate Estate of William Thomas Bernard, and the CDC, then a tenant on the property. In 2016, the Supreme Court upheld a lower court ruling ordering the CDC and the 2nd respondent estate evicted.
However, enforcement of the ruling stalled allegedly due to political interference, including the appointment of the estate’s former counsel, Cllr. Frank Musah Dean, as Minister of Justice. It wasn’t until 2024 that the 1st respondent hired new counsel and resumed efforts to enforce the 2016 judgment.
To stall eviction, CDC entered into negotiations with the Stubblefield Estate to purchase the land. As part of those talks, CDC paid a total of US$360,000 in rental arrears for 2018 to 2023 and also settled court costs. According to the Court, those payments constituted “an implied enforcement” of the judgment and thereby established a landlord-tenant relationship.
Die-Hard CDCians Blame Leaders for Failing the Party
The uprooting of CDC’s famous ‘sycamore tree’ that was rooted in the compound of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), now demolished headquarters in Congo Town, has hit some partisans hard to grasp.
These partisans have come out to publicly blame top hierarchy of the CDC who are noted to have acquired massive wealth, built personal properties and mansions, and own fleets of expensive vehicles but they forgot the very party that brought them to prominence and gave them the opportunity to accumulate wealth.
Some of these die-hard partisans who are hurt by the demolition of their party have accused the likes of Deputy House Speaker Thomas P. Fallah, former Montserrado County District #8 Rep. Acarous Moses Gray, Senator Saah H. Joseph, former City Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee, former party chairman Mulbah K. Morlu Jr., Senator Nathaniel McGill, Comptroller General Janga Augustus Kowo, among many others for failing to give back to the party after ascending to state power.
According to these CDC partisans, the demolition of their party headquarters is squarely blamed on them. “This is on you people and not the current government. CDC made all of you guys and some of you built mansions, apartments complex, school buildings for yourselves overnight, but what did you give back to CDC? Disgrace, betrayal and neglect.”
As for Boima J.V. Boima, former CDC supporter expressed thoughts about the demolition of the CDC Headquarters: “CDC had all the opportunity to buy their own land and build a perfect headquarter, instead, they chose to do otherwise. While in power, the party leaders chose to focus on their personal wealth creation than prioritizing the party and its members.”
“In as much as I am no longer a member of the CDC party, today’s (Saturday, August 23, 2025) incident was an emotional one. I felt sad and broken. Imagine a once powerful structure where men and women who controlled the coffers of the state gathered, was torn into pieces with its inhabitants chased away like cats. CDC had all the opportunity to buy their own land and build a perfect headquarter, instead, they chose to do otherwise. Today, the only structure left to instill hopes in the mind of the supporters is gone. This is not just about the eviction. It sends a deeper message to everyone including those in positions of trust that nothing on this earth lasts forever. Be careful and humble”!!
The Way Forward – As Weah Calls for Calm and Focus on 2029
Former President George Weah, the CDC’s political leader, called on members to accept the loss of the property and redirect their focus. “Allow the people do whatever they want with the building. Let us focus on building our new home, recalibrating, and getting prepared to take back power in 2029 with no exceptions,” Weah said.
Political pundits have questioned the sincerity of Weah and his ally, who for over years only prioritized their personal interests and fail to erect a structure for a political party that gave them the opportunity to acquire properties and wealth they never had.
These pundits are arguing that Weah and his cronies are urging their partisans to focus on 2029 but how sincere will that be if the CDC were to return to state power in 2029? Bob Marley, the late reggae sensation once said: “You can fool some people some of the time but you can’t fool all of the people all of the time.” Is former President Weah’s call for partisans of CDC to focus on 2029 in good faith or is he is trying to muster them to support him again, only to throw them by the way side when state power of is obtained for the second time? Barely a eight months into his six-year reign as President of Liberia, Weah had built himself over 45 condominiums and had completely demolished his 9th Street-Sinkor residence and began to build it from scratch.
The uprooting of the famous sycamore tree at the former headquarters of the CDC has brought to an end a place once revered by CDCians as a sacred ground for their political activities for the last 20 years. Will the CDC muster the courage and relaunch its new party headquarters to rekindle the grassroot valor of the CDC – a party noted to be a grassroot political movement, but over the years benefitted only the hierarchy and close allies and cronies of CDC political leader to the detriment of their partisans? Well, time will tell and so it goes…
