Ahead of the much-publicized “Enough is enough” protest slated for today, July 17, 2025, a research and policy organization, InfoQuest Liberia, has sternly warned organizers against acts of lawlessness, urging them to remain peaceful and responsible.
According to the organizers of the protest, the Solidarity Trust for A New Day (STAND), it is intended to confront ‘a worsening governance crisis, rule of law violations, deepening economic hardship, and continued corruption in government.’
Some political groups and institutions have distanced themselves from the protest. However, others, including the major opposition party, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), have pledged their support, which has amplified the event’s significance. Recently, CDC members were seen in large numbers parading the streets of Monrovia along with the protest organizers, referring to this as a prelude to the main event.
The Liberia National Police, along with other state security agencies, have been enhancing their manpower and capacity to manage the upcoming protest and respond effectively to any potential incidents. A significant meeting was held between the police and the protest organizers to ensure that both parties can coordinate their actions clearly and precisely.
Amid these events, Matthias Yeanay, Executive Director of InfoQuest Liberia, has warned that the expectedly peaceful protest must not degenerate into provocation, violence, or damage to lives and properties, something the nation has witnessed in past times where protests turned chaotic. He stated that in a democracy, rights come with responsibilities.
Yeanay stressed that organizers must bear the moral and civic obligation to ensure that their actions strengthen, not undermine, the very freedoms they seek to exercise. “We also call on the Liberia National Police and all security agencies to act with utmost professionalism and impartiality”, he added.
Guided by the human security approach (UNDP, 1994), the InfoQuest boss said law enforcement officers must prioritise the safety of all citizens, protesters, and bystanders alike, and safeguard public property. Matthias pointed out that heavy-handedness or politically motivated repression will only escalate tensions and compromise Liberia’s reputation as a growing democracy. According to him, Liberia’s democracy is being tested not by the existence of protests, but by how institutions, citizens, and leaders manage them.
At the same time, InfoQuest encourages all Liberians to learn from the past, act within the law, and put the nation first. He indicated that Democracy flourishes when grievances are addressed through legal and peaceful means, and when justice is upheld for all, without fear or favour.
“Let this protest, whatever its origins or motivations, become a moment where Liberia demonstrates that it has learned from history, respects its Constitution, and is committed to a future grounded in peace, justice, and democratic integrity”, he noted.
InfoQuest also acknowledged and historicized that some protest organizers are key actors in past administrations and have been credibly linked to systemic corruption and economic mismanagement. “Many are currently facing judicial scrutiny—a welcome sign of Liberia’s growing accountability mechanisms”, he reechoed. However, per Article 17 of the Liberian Constitution and Liberia’s international obligations under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (UN, 1966), Mr. Yeanay stressed that these individuals remain entitled to the right to peaceful assembly and freedom of expression.
“In line with Johan Galtung’s theory of positive peace, which emphasizes the presence of justice and equality, not merely the absence of violence (Galtung, 1969)—InfoQuest believes that democratic consolidation requires that even unpopular or politically inconvenient voices be granted space for lawful expression,” he said.
To suppress such rights, no matter how tempting, he pointed out, would only breed further resentment and latent instability, stating that the planned protest moment calls for national reflection, informed by history and guided by a shared commitment to peace, justice, and the rule of law.
He noted that Liberia’s democratic progress since 2003 must not be undermined by acts that echo past traumas. Reflecting further, he said the Country is reminded of the 1979 Rice Riots—an initially peaceful demonstration against rising prices that turned violent due to mismanagement and excessive state force. “That single incident sowed seeds of distrust and instability that contributed to Liberia’s tragic descent into civil conflict (Ellis, 2007),” he added.
Meanwhile, the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) has also called on citizens partaking in the protest to be peaceful and Law-abiding while exercising their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly, as well as the international community, civil society, and all advocates of freedom to witness and voice their concerns. “Let no Liberian forget: When governments fear the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. May the drums of democracy resonate throughout our land. Let the people rise, not with violence, but with conscience and unity,” the CDC Executive Committee said in a press conference on Wednesday.
