Earlier Thursday, there was tension during a police operation near the headquarters of the former ruling party Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) in Monrovia.
The operation was targeting a suspected drug cartel, and police attempted to raid a compound believed to be involved in illegal drug activities near the CDC’s office close to the Atlantic Ocean.
As the police moved in, CDC partisans gathered and accused the police of trying to discredit the party by staging the raid so close to their headquarters. This led to a standoff as partisans blocked the police’s access to the compound and chanted slogans. T
The police called for reinforcements, and the situation remained tense for several hours, with stone throwing and attempts to negotiate access to the compound.
A police spokeswoman, Cecelia Clark, confirmed the tension at the location and assured the public of a proper briefing later.
A police informant told Liberia Public Radio that the operation was part of an ongoing crackdown on drug trafficking in Monrovia and unrelated to the CDC’s activities.
The tension calmed down after the Liberian House Speaker, Jonathan Fonati Koffa, intervened. He was almost hit with stones but managed to ease the standoff, with the police maintaining a presence in the area.
Party officials have urged their members to remain calm and have called for transparency from the police to avoid further conflict.
