OPERATIONS STING!!!

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As US Sanctions Swell 

— Boakai’s First and Foremost Test

-Liberians Want No Shielding of Sanctioned Koijee, McGill, Tweah, PYJ, Sherman, Cephas, Nuquay, Chie & Twehway 

Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe some time ago told Liberians as well as former and current government officials placed on United States of America’s targeted sanctions that “if anybody thinks being sanctioned is an easy thing then they must be joking because it is tiring and draining in the lives of a sanctioned person.” He further warned that nobody should take sanctions for play.

But it seems the warning of Senator Snowe was never heeded as some former and current officials of government ignored the plight of poverty-stricken Liberians to pillage Liberia’s resources for their personal and selfish gains, benefitting only they and their respective families as well as close cronies and associates.

To make matters worse, the sanctioned City Mayor of Monrovia, Jefferson Koijee took to the streets of Monrovia along with his very-same-band of Monrovia youths, who the Americans said he uses most times to carry out violence against the persons of innocent Liberians and the opposition bloc, as well as students, who then paraded him through the streets on Monday. He stated that he is not deterred by the sanctions imposed on him, not knowing the implications and consequences it will have on his life thereafter.

But despite failure of the Government of Liberia, under the watchful eyes of President George Weah, to prosecute persons and officials accused of corruption, human rights abuses and perpetration of violence, the United States through its Department of Treasury Office for Assets Control (OFAC) have been keeping track and documented Liberian government officials who chose to be corrupt, violators of human rights and perpetrators of violence over the last couple of years.

In addition, the former United States Ambassador to Liberia, Michael McCarthy prior to his departure after completing three years of duty tour in the tiny West African nation told journalists during his last media engagement that the next round of targeted sanctions to be imposed on corrupt officials and human rights violators within the Liberian government or elsewhere in the country would come up immediately after the October 10, 2023 presidential and legislative elections.

Amb. McCarthy further stated that that sanctions against officials of the Liberian government were intended to serve as deterrent for would-be corrupt officials and human rights violators, and that the onus to prosecute those who had been sanctioned by the US government was squarely on the laps of the Liberian government. 

He also disclosed the pieces of evidence were available and clear for the government of Liberia to prosecute the sanctioned officials. Despite that revelation, the outgoing Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of President George Weah lacks the political will to pursue a prosecution route but rather prefers for accused corrupt officials to go with impunity. The lack of political will by the CDC government to prosecute those former and current Liberian government officials placed on targeted sanctions drew lots of condemnations from the public but fell on deaf ears.

US Gov’t Strikes in Keeping with Amb. McCarthy’s revelation

And so, on Friday, 8 December 2023 in keeping with former US Ambassador McCarthy’s pre-departure media engagement regarding a new wave of US targeted sanctions against corrupt officials and human rights violators in Liberia, the United States Treasury Department through its OFAC, slammed Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee with targeted for sanctions.

According to the United States Treasury Department, “Koijee has a reputation for stoking violence and has a powerful grip on Monrovia’s youth. He controls paramilitary-style organizations associated with the CDC which allegedly recruits former combatants and recently released prisoners. OFAC has reason to believe that Koijee has instructed these organizations to violently disrupt demonstrations conducted by government critics or political opposition. Koijee and his supporters have been involved in violence in connection with: an opposition rally in July 2022, students attending a memorial service for former Liberian president Amos Sawyer in March 2022, an anti-rape protest in August 2020, a student graduation ceremony in December 2019, and an opposition rally in November 2018. Koijee has also engaged in corrupt acts, including bribery and misappropriation of state assets for use by private political movements and pressuring anti-corruption investigators to halt corruption investigations.”

Koijee is being designated for being a foreign person who is responsible for or complicit in, or who has directly or indirectly engaged in, serious human rights abuse and for being a foreign person who is a current or former government official, or a person acting for or on behalf of such an official, who is responsible for or complicit in, or who has directly or indirectly engaged in, corruption, including the misappropriation of state assets, the expropriation of private assets for personal gain, corruption related to government contracts or the extraction of natural resources, or bribery pursuant to E.O. 13818.

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

As a result of today’s actions, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.”

Tweah, Senators Chie & Nuquay Latest Sanctioned Officials

Announcing Monday, December 11, 2023 sanctions against the three men (Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, Senators Albert Chie and Emmanuel Nuquay), the US Gov’t said, “Pursuant to Section 7031 ©, the United States is publicly designating Tweah, Chie, and Nuquay, for their involvement in significant corruption by abusing their public positions through soliciting, accepting, and offering bribes to manipulate legislative reporting and mining sector activity. As part of this action, their immediate family members are also designated, including their spouses Delecia Berry Tweah, Abigail Chie, and Ruthtoria Brown Nuquay, and Tweah and Nuquay’s minor children.”

This round of sanctions comes on the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day and the opening of Conference of States Parties to the UN Convention Against Corruption on December 11, 2023. The United States said they are taking the following actions to promote accountability for corrupt actors around the world, including Liberia.

Liberians’ Reaction on Targeted Sanction against Koijee, Others

The United States targeted sanction against Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee swept through the country as a wild forest fire spreads through a forest during the dry season. Within matter of minutes the social media was flooded with the report.

Over the years Mayor Koijee’s name was associated with almost every violent incident and human rights abuses meted against peaceful Liberians, but he persistently denied those allegations through press conferences, media releases and talk show appearances. His denial however, did not deter the United States Treasury Department through its OFAC to slam targeted sanctions against Mayor. In his reaction over the sanction, Mayor Koijee says he is not deterred.

But in the case of majority Liberians who one way or the other commented on social media or through call-in talk shows on local radio stations across Liberia regarding the targeted sanctions against Mayor Koijee have tagged it as ‘Operations Sting’ by the US government to bite all those Liberian government officials who are bent on corruption and human rights abuses.

In the case of Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah, he has on many occasions been accused by Liberians of enriching himself, along with the alleged acquisition of real estates outside Liberia, something he has publicly denied. As for Senators Nuquay and Chie, they form part of the 54th Legislature in Liberia which Liberians has tagged as being corrupt and the main problem affecting the development and growth of the country, as well as personal growth of the people of the country. The sanctioning has been welcomed by most Liberians who think the US sanction should have been imposed on them earlier.

According to those Liberians, since the CDC-led government of President George Weah lacks the political will to prosecute targeted sanctioned government officials, they will buttress the US government’s action by pursuing the incoming Unity Party government that will be led by Amb. Joseph Boakai to prosecute all those sanctioned by the US Treasury Department for alleged corruption, human rights abuses and perpetration of violence in Liberia over the years.

What’s Next for Koijee, McGill, Tweah, Chie, PYJ and Others?

Most Liberians who have reacted to the latest targeted sanction placed on Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee as well as Samuel Tweah, Emmanuel Nuquay and Albert Chie want the incoming administration of Amb. Joseph Boakai to gather the political will to prosecute Koijee and all those sanctioned by the US government under the Magnitsky Act.

They believe prosecution will set a deterrent for those who will be guilty and punished in keeping with the laws of Liberia. For many years, corruption has eaten the fabric of the nation as people who are usually accused of corrupt practices in government or any other public space go with impunity as there are never prosecutions to curtail the menace.

With Liberians calling on the incoming Unity Party government to be led by Amb. Joseph Boakai, a time bomb/prosecution await the likes of Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson Koijee, former Minister of State for Presidential Affairs Nathaniel McGill, former National Port Authority Managing Director Bill Twehway (now both Senators-elect for Margibi and Rivercess Counties respectively), former Solicitor General of Liberia Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephas, Nimba County Senator Prince Y. Johnson and Grand Cape Mount County Senator Cllr. Varney Sherman, Finance Minister Samuel Tweah, Senators Albert Chie and Emmanuel Nuquay, who are all sanctioned by the US government on either alleged corrupt practices, human rights abuse and perpetrating violence. 

Many political pundits and commentators are of the beliefs that incoming President Joseph Boakai will not want to start on a bad-footing with Liberia’s number and traditional ally, the United States by refusing to adhere to their calls to prosecute those placed on targeted sanctions for alleged corrupt activities as well as human rights abuses and perpetration of violence in Liberia over the years.

Drawing International Attention and Supports

Diplomatic sources also hint that if incoming President Joseph Boakai is to open doors for international support and investments to boost the private sector in Liberia, he must set example by upholding integrity, transparency, accountability and respect for rule of law from the onset of his administration.

It is expected that the US government might likely provide pieces of evidence against those current and former government officials it placed on targeted sanctions for either corruption, human rights abuses and perpetration of violence in Liberia over the years. 

Former United States Ambassador Michael McCarthy always said during his tenure in Liberia that the pieces of evidence were glaring leading to the sanctioning of those Liberian former and current officials by his government. He did say it took years for the US Treasury Department thru its OFAC to determine, document and reach conclusion to sanction those it sanctioned in Liberia.

Therefore, the real first and foremost test for incoming President Joseph Boakai is whether his administration will take the bull by the horn to prosecute those current and former government officials who the US government sanctioned in relations to alleged corruptions, human rights and perpetration of violence in Liberia over the years. Or, will his administration emulate the ‘ugly’ example of the outgoing CDC government led by President George Weah to protect and shield government officials who have been sanctioned for the wrong reasons – corruption, human rights abuses and perpetration of violence in Liberia in the last couple of years? 

The ball will be in the court of President-elect Joseph Boakai, after he shall have been inaugurated in January 2024, to either do the needful or be chastised by Liberians if he fails to heed the calls for prosecution in the fight against corruption, human rights abuse and perpetration of violence in Liberia. If his failure to adhere will also come to hunt his party in future elections in Liberia.

(By: Siebo Williams, A Liberian Journalist of over 35 years of experience. A former Public Information Assistant and Radio Producer of the erstwhile UN Peacekeeping Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), former Communications Officer Disarmament and Reintegration Commission of Liberia, former Communications Officer Lutheran World Federations/Service, former Mentor Internews-Liberia/USAID Media Project for its Elections Reporting Component, Media Consultant, Operations Officer & Managing Partner – Media Hub Liberia; and now a Media Expert) Studied at Cuttington University.

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