Monrovia, January 9, 2026 — The National Executive Council of the CDC–Council of Patriots (CDC–COP) has formally distanced the Liberian people from the position taken by the Boakai–Koung administration at the United Nations on Venezuela, describing the stance as disconnected from Liberia’s pressing domestic realities and national interest.
In a communication addressed to the Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy near Monrovia, CDC–COP criticized the statement delivered by Liberia’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Ambassador Lewis Brown, during recent United Nations Security Council deliberations. The statement, made on behalf of the African A3 group, emphasized sovereignty, dialogue, and adherence to international law in relation to Venezuela.
According to CDC–COP, while such principles may be diplomatically sound, they fail to reflect the urgent needs of ordinary Liberians who continue to grapple with economic hardship, deteriorating public services, and weak governance.
“At a time when hospitals lack basic medicines, schools are under-resourced, constitutional norms are repeatedly violated, and communities are overwhelmed by poverty, the government’s focus on controversial international posturing is misplaced,” the group said.
The organization further raised alarm over what it described as worsening internal governance, citing reports of police brutality, entrenched corruption within security institutions, and unresolved allegations of exploitation and abuse involving minors. CDC–COP argued that the lack of transparent investigations into these issues has deepened public distrust in state institutions.
Beyond domestic governance concerns, CDC–COP highlighted serious allegations circulating within civic and governance-monitoring circles that foreign interests may have influenced Liberia’s diplomatic posture at the United Nations. The group referenced claims that Prince Arthur Eze of Oranto Petroleum, described as a close associate of the Venezuelan leadership, may have provided financial inducements connected to Liberia’s UN position, including an alleged transfer of seven million United States dollars to the Liberian First Lady.
While stressing that these claims remain unproven, CDC–COP said their gravity warrants immediate, transparent, and independent investigations by national and international anti-corruption bodies.
“These allegations have not been substantiated by independent oversight institutions or investigative journalism and therefore remain allegations,” the statement noted. “However, given their potential implications for national integrity, they cannot be ignored.”
CDC–COP warned that when foreign policy appears to be shaped by opaque private interests rather than the welfare of citizens, public trust and state legitimacy are severely undermined.
The group reaffirmed the historic and strategic relationship between Liberia and the United States, describing it as vital to Liberia’s peace, democratic development, and institutional reform. It called for that partnership to be guided by integrity, accountability, and shared democratic values.
Accordingly, CDC–COP urged the international community to recognize that the Boakai–Koung administration’s position at the United Nations does not represent the collective will of the Liberian people. It also appealed that any diplomatic or policy consequences arising from Liberia’s UN posture be directed at responsible decision-makers, not the general population.
In its statement, CDC–COP named several senior officials it said should be held politically accountable for the country’s current foreign policy direction and broader governance failures, including President Joseph N. Boakai Jr. and other top officials within the administration.
“History will judge those who mortgage national honor for personal or political gain,” the statement concluded, adding that Liberians deserve public servants and diplomats who defend the Republic with integrity, courage, and accountability.
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