Some 20 years after the end of its second brutal civil war, Liberia is a country which places a high value on peace and democracy, but political turmoil remains. Now the death of a popular model, beauty pageant expert and student has brought ongoing violence to international attention.
An innocent victim of political violence
Joshua Solomon, 35, was well aware of the challenges his country faced. He studied sociology at the African Methodist Episcopal University in the country’s capital, Monrovia, and was known to be a supporter of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC). He also represented Liberia’s hopes for a brighter future, engaging young people with his flamboyant style and training beauty pageant contenders. His modelling career attracted international attention and he seemed to have a life full of possibility.
That life ended as a result of a brutal mob attack in the Sinkor region of Monrovia on 11 August, though Solomon did not succumb to his injuries until 1 December. The assault followed close on the heels of a clash between supporters of the country’s two largest political parties, the CDC and the Unity Party, but Solomon was not involved in this and appears to have been alone when he was set upon by a group of people who appeared to be Unity Party supporters. It was broad daylight at the time and mobile phone footage shows him being dragged to the ground and beaten with clubs.
Though he managed to flee the scene and make it to a nearby medical centre, Solomon suffered severe head injuries which subsequently caused his condition to deteriorate. A death certificate, which has not been able to be confirmed, lists the cause of death as trauma and encephalitis. It has also been reported that he suffered from internal bleeding.
Links to the governing party?
Immediately following Solomon’s death, concerns were expressed by human rights advocates in the country who felt that police were not taking sufficient action to track down the attackers who had been caught on film. In particular, they were worried that the apparent involvement of prominent Unity Party activist Peaches Queen Johnson was being overlooked. Johnson, who has previously faced accusations of assault, is an outspoken campaigner and has been pictured with Joseph Nyumah Boakai, the country’s incoming president.
On 4 December, the Liberian National Police formally identified Johnson as one of several suspects and put out a call for her to attend its headquarters. It has since requested help in tracking her down, assuring members of the public that no harm will come to them if they come forward with information. This may be insufficient, however, in a country where trust in the authorities is low – a major contributing factor to political factionalism and dissatisfaction in the first place.
Liberia: corruption and credible reports of extrajudicial killings
The US Department of State has previously expressed concern about political corruption and extrajudicial killings in the country. It has noted that mob violence is common despite being prohibited by law, with cases rarely prosecuted. The National Civil Society Council of Liberia, which has a core commitment to enhance transparency and accountability, stressed the need for a thorough investigation into the murder of Solomon.
“We are calling on the Liberia National Police to exert all efforts in conducting an impartial investigation so that the family of the deceased can get justice”, said its chair, Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai, in a statement. “There should be nothing swept under the carpet or be business as usual. The death of this young and promising citizen of ours needs to be fully investigated with time and the police must ensure that justice is served without fear and favour.”
Political passions were running high at the time of the attack as the country was preparing for a general election. With the Unity Party winning this, on 10 October, by a margin of less than 21,000 votes, the tense atmosphere remains, but spokespeople for both the Unity Party and the CDC have called for justice in Solomon’s case.
Joshua Solomon’s tragedy emblemises need for change
Just a decade after the end of the war which killed an estimated one in 20 of its citizens, Liberia was struck by Ebola. Seven years later it suffered further loss of life as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, with both diseases also doing lasting economic damage. Its trading arrangements have since been damaged by the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and little meaningful support has come from an international community distracted by crises elsewhere.
As the country struggles to improve its prospects, a commitment to peace at all costs, in a still precarious situation, has made it difficult for any group to achieve real political change, including economic reform or the advancement of human rights. The consequence of this has been increasing frustration amongst young people, increasing the risk of violence. Solomon was caught in the middle of this, but his death has highlighted the need for change and real institutional reform. If his killers can be brought to justice, a better future may yet be within reach.
