Africa-Press – Liberia. Former Liberian President George Manneh Weah has vowed to rebuild the demolished headquarters of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) “in record time,” pledging to sustain what he described as a political battle against the ruling Unity Party-led government.
Weah made the remarks on Monday upon his return to Liberia, where he was greeted by throngs of jubilant supporters.
“I’m glad to be back home to make sure that CDC gets its party headquarters back,” Weah told reporters. “To all of my partisans, what happened to us, don’t worry. George Manneh Weah is here. We are going to restore and rebuild our party headquarters.”
The CDC headquarters, once the party’s political nerve center in Congo Town, was recently demolished under a court order—a move that sparked anger among partisans who insist the decision was politically motivated. The party has since set up a project committee chaired by former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa to oversee reconstruction.
Weah, who was out of the country during the demolition, sought to reassure his supporters that the CDC remains resilient: “We came and built a party for our people. We were able to do that and we are still able to sustain the political fight. So don’t worry—we are going to build our party headquarters in record time.”
Weah Condemns Police Use of Tear Gas Against Supporters
Weah’s homecoming was marred by a standoff at the Roberts International Airport (RIA), where police fired tear gas to disperse hundreds of CDC partisans who had gathered to welcome him.
Witnesses said supporters began assembling before dawn, singing, dancing, and chanting slogans. The atmosphere turned chaotic when police attempted to clear the entrance, prompting resistance from partisans. Officers then released tear gas, causing panic and injuries as the crowd scattered.
Some supporters reportedly resorted to traditional remedies, such as water and leaves, to ease the effects of the gas.
Weah expressed disappointment over the incident: “I watched television and I see fight—why are we fighting? I put on my page that I’m coming back home—be civil, because this country belongs to everybody. I don’t think it was necessary today. We don’t need to fight. We need peace in this country, because that is the only way we can move forward.”
He added: “Our mission is not to come and block the airport and have police fighting partisans.”
As of press time, the Liberia National Police had yet to issue an official statement on the confrontation.
Weah’s return comes amid growing political tension over the demolition of the CDC headquarters. His renewed presence on the ground is expected to energize the opposition base and test the government’s commitment to civil liberties and political tolerance.
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