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Claim: A Facebook user, Aloysious Howe, claims that “The Economic Community of West African States has responded to a letter written by former president George Weah” over the alleged witch-hunt of his supporters.
Verdict: Misleading. According to Madam Irene Wallace, the special assistant in the office of the ECOWAS Representative in Liberia, the working visit is a routine post-electoral visit already in the making.
Full Text
After a chaotic clash between supporters of George Weah and officials of state security, which led to injuries and destruction of properties, there were a lot of statements across the political divide condemning the clashes.
Former President George Weah issued one such statement. In an attempt to draw the attention of international and subregional organisations to what he believed to be attacks and persecution of his supporters, Ex-President Weah issued an official statement to the Economic Community of West African States.
The letter in part reads: “I write to draw your attention and through you, the Authority of Heads of State, to an unprovoked attack on the headquarters of our political institution, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), on Thursday, August 22, 2024, by Liberian security forces under the dubious guise of effecting a drug raid. This premeditated and callous act of violence targeted at the country’s main opposition political party is the latest in a series of actions by the Boakai Administration to trample upon political freedoms, disregard the laws of the land, undermine democracy and stoke tension in the country.”
However, on Monday, August 26, 2024, social media (Facebook) was flooded with communication from the Economic Community of West African States’ office (ECOWAS) in Liberia, believed to be an official response from the regional body to former President George Weah of Liberia.
A Facebook user, Aloysious How, a staunch member of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), was part of those who took their official Facebook pages claiming that the communication from ECOWAS was a direct and official response to the former Liberian leader’s complaint.
According to Mr Howe, “The Economic Community of West African State(ECOWAS) has responded to a letter written by President George Weah to the West African body.”
“Due to the severity and importance of President George Weah’s concerns, the president of ECOWAS, H.E. Omar Alieu Touray, in his official response to President George Weah, has unveiled that he will lead a delegation of officials of ECOWAS to Liberia today and will meet with President George Weah at 7:00 pm Liberia time,” Mr Howe stated.
The appearance of this alleged viral response from ECOWAS coincided with ECOWAS officials’ visit to Liberia.
But is it true that ECOWAS has responded to ex-president George Weah?
Verification
With claims and counter-claims over the actual intent of the ECOWAS communication, DUBAWA thought it necessary to investigate if the viral letter was indeed from ECOWAS and whether their arrival into Liberia had anything to do with the letter George Weah wrote.
Our researcher first contacted the claimant via WhatsApp for evidence aside from what he posted that backed his claim, and he responded by saying that he maintains his post, as seen in the screenshot below.
The researcher approached the office of the ECOWAS Representative in Liberia, Madam Josephine Nkrumah, through her special assistant, Madam Irene Wallace.
Madam Wallace told our researcher that the visit by ECOWAS’s president, Mr Omar Alieu Touray, was a routine visit in line with ECOWAS’ regional peacebuilding agenda to foster peace and unity within the region.
She furthered, “The working visit is a routine post-electoral visit, which was already in the making. While in Liberia, he will also meet with major stakeholders to discuss issues ranging from peace and security to reconciliation, among others.”
Upon the arrival of the ECOWAS president, Madam Wallace also shared with our researcher a communication outlining the ECOWAS president’s activities while in Liberia.
According to the communication, during President Omar Alieu Touray’s visit, he and his delegation met His Excellency Joseph Nyumah Boakai, President of the Republic of Liberia, and other stakeholders.
“Following Liberia’s credible elections in 2023, ECOWAS is here to support Liberia’s post-election national reconciliation efforts in solidarity with the people of Liberia,” the communication stated.
Screenshot of the communication as seen below
Conclusion
Based on the clarity provided by the ECOWAS Representative in Liberia concerning the visit of the ECOWAS president to Liberia, the claim by Mr Howe is misleading.
