HARBEL, MARGIBI COUNTY – Roberts International Airport (RIA) turned into a flashpoint today as supporters of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) clashed with state security forces while attempting to welcome former President George Manneh Weah back into the country.
Crowds of CDC partisans defied restrictions imposed by the Liberia National Police (LNP), which had declared the airport a “no-go zone” for political gatherings, citing concerns over public safety and crowd control. Despite the ban, hundreds of supporters thronged the airport, insisting that “once a president, always a VIP” and demanding that the VIP corridor be opened for Mr. Weah.
The standoff escalated when the LNP, backed by joint security forces, used tear gas to disperse the crowd. Eyewitnesses reported chaos, with several people arrested, though the exact number of casualties and detentions remains unclear.
Deputy Inspector General for Operations of the LNP, Col. Nelson Freeman, however, authorized the entrance of some CDC supporters onto the RIA premises, reportedly urging calm. “Everyone is a Liberian and has the right to associate and disassociate. We have not come to hurt you,” Freeman was quoted as saying.
Despite his intervention, tensions remained high. Weah’s partisans accused President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s administration of “intimidation tactics,” labeling his government as corrupt and dysfunctional. Some went as far as to reference the President’s health, alleging he had undergone heart surgery in the United States—a claim critics dismissed as political rhetoric. In a more troubling turn, some supporters issued veiled threats about the future of the Boakai family after 2029.
This is not the first time Weah’s return to Liberia has stirred controversy. In previous years, particularly during his presidency and after his election defeat, large gatherings of his supporters at RIA led to tense encounters with security forces, highlighting the former leader’s enduring political influence and the government’s struggle to balance public order with citizens’ rights to free association.
The CDC leadership has yet to issue an official statement on today’s incident. The LNP, meanwhile, defended its actions, insisting that crowd restrictions and security measures were necessary to prevent unrest.
As Liberia’s political climate grows increasingly charged, Weah’s re-emergence on the national stage could test the fragile stability of the country, with critics warning that confrontations such as today’s risk deepening political divides.
