Hundreds rally against government corruption in Liberia

Hundreds of Liberians took to the streets on Thursday, angry over perceived corruption in President Joseph Boakai's government and democratic backsliding in the west African country, an AFP journalist saw.

Under the pounding rain the protesters marched towards Capitol Hill and other government institutions, chanting "Enough is enough" and brandishing placards taking aim at the head of state.

Critics accuse Boakai, who took office at the beginning of 2024 for a six-year term, of mismanaging the impoverished country's economy, presiding over rampant corruption and failing to improve salaries for public workers.

Riot police stood guard during the protest. By Matthew Jacobs (AFP)

The government's defenders say it has suspended senior officials for alleged corruption and strengthened ties with investors.

The protesters also accuse Boakai of not keeping the promises he made while campaigning to unseat his predecessor, former Ballon D'Or-winning footballer George Weah.

One protester, 55-year-old civil servant Bendu Camara, accused the president of targeting officials associated with the Weah administration, and said he was forced into retirement when Boakai came into office.

Camara also claimed Boakai's government gave preferential treatment while distributing jobs and favoured members of his Unity Party.

"He entered the mansion and we gave him the flag for all Liberians, but he is picking and choosing. He is taking the Unity Party people to be the country's owners."

Another protester, Hawa Kpehe, said the president had "lied to the Liberian people".

Police guarded Liberia's Capitol building. By Matthew Jacobs (AFP)

Boakai "came to power and took food from our parents' table... Today, we, their children, are on the streets hustling for ourselves," the 22-year-old pottery trader added.

Among the world's poorest countries, Liberia has been hoping to rebuild after a devastating Ebola epidemic in 2014 and years of bloody conflict.

Two back-to-back wars devastated the nation from 1989 until 2003, claiming around 250,000 lives with rampant massacres, mutilation, rape and the widespread use of child soldiers.