Grand Gedeh County Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely has accused President Joseph Boakai of being connected to the formation of the Lofa Defense Force (LDF), a rebel group active during Liberia’s civil war.
The LDF, led by Francois Massaquoi, emerged in 1993 and operated primarily in northern Liberia, launching attacks against the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy-Kromah faction (ULIMO-K) after crossing the border from Guinea.
Senator Nimely, a former warlord and leader of the now-defunct Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), alleged that President Boakai played a role in organizing the LDF.
He challenged the president’s commitment to establishing a War and Economic Crimes Court, suggesting that Boakai should step down and be prepared to face justice if he truly supports its establishment.
“I am ready for it because the president himself is accused of organizing the Lofa Defense Force. When the time comes, we all must step down and face the War Crimes Court,” Senator Nimely told reporters at the Capitol.
Nimely further accused President Boakai of reneging on an alleged promise made to the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson during the 2023 presidential election.
According to Nimely, Boakai had assured Johnson that he would block the establishment of the War and Economic Crimes Court in exchange for his support.
Johnson, he claimed, campaigned tirelessly across Nimba County and other parts of Liberia to ensure Boakai’s victory.
“You became president, and within your first month in office, you turned around and said, ‘I will prosecute you,’” Nimely stated. He criticized Boakai for what he described as a lack of moral integrity, accusing the president of using Johnson for political advantage and then abandoning his promise.
