President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has spoken strongly against Mob Violence in the country; stating that it scares away investors. Speaking Saturday, April 19, 2025, during the launch of the National Anti-Mob Violence Campaign in Monrovia, the President said while mob violence causes investors to stay away from a country, it can also make others disrespect another country and make people feel insecure.
The Liberian Leader said that the government cannot create jobs when the citizens themselves are scaring investors away by an act of violence. “If we decide to be a part of the international community, we have to live as a respectable country, by respecting the rule of law and respecting one another,” he narrated.
President Boakai promised Liberians that the launch of the National Anti-Mob Violence Campaign will not just be a mere launch, but will take effect in all of the fifteen counties.
President Boakai, “Violence can not solve problems, we have to work together as Liberians because this country is for all of us.”
He said that his government will invest money into social issues to have young people educated about mob-violence; that mob violence can hunt everybody.
“We will take mob-violence discussion to the communities through town-hall meetings and educate the young people at different levels about the effect of mob violence,” the President disclosed.
For his part, Liberia’s Justice Minister, Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh said, “We are painfully aware that in recent months, numerous acts of mob violence have escalated alarmingly, culminating in the tragic loss of lives and the destruction of property. Incidents in Weala and Paynesville demonstrated the depths of despair that can arise when fear and distrust replace faith in our judicial processes.”
Minister Tweh narrated that the violent outcomes of those confrontations, as seen in the horrific treatment of vulnerable individuals and the wanton destruction of public property, starkly highlight the critical need for restorative justice and community resilience.
He explained Mob violence is a serious crime that threatens the very essence of democracy and societal order; categorically denounces acts of violence and pledged a decisive response from the government.
Cllr. Tweh stated that the initiative represents a renewed commitment to rebuild trust in the justice system and to cultivate a culture of respect for the rule of law. He narrated that by engaging communities in dialogues and educational activities, we aim to empower our citizens to seek justice through lawful means, no longer resorting to vigilantism or mob justice.
“Our campaign’s primary goals are twofold: first, to encourage citizens to pursue justice through the appropriate legal channels, instilling confidence that the justice system can and will deliver outcomes that reflect fairness, equity, and integrity; and second, to promote a coherent vision of a safe Liberia, where investment, economic growth, and social stability can flourish unimpeded by the specter of mob violence,’ Cllr. Tweh said.
According to him, in collaboration with civil society organizations, community leaders, the Liberia Motorcycle Union, and the Federation of Liberian Youth, the government will raise awareness through workshops, talk shows, and community-based dialogues.
