NATIONAL NEWS
MONROVIA – The Revolutionary National Youth League of the Congress for Democratic Change has declared Monday, September 7, as “Black Monday” in honor of its former Vice Chairman for Operations, Comrade Janjay Baikpeh, while calling for national mourning and prayers for his family.
By: Trokon S. Wrepue – trokon1992seokin@gmail.com
The declaration coincides with the CDC’s observance of National Youth Day, which the youth league says is celebrated annually on September 7. In a press statement issued Monday, the group described Baikpeh as a dedicated party cadre, revolutionary, intellectual and committed supporter of the people’s movement.
The Revolutionary National Youth League urged CDC partisans and supporters across Liberia’s 15 political subdivisions and in the diaspora to observe the day through prayer and reflection in memory of Baikpeh and other fallen party members, including James Gray, Munah Pelham-Youngblood, Adu Dorley and Winn Sailey.
The youth league also encouraged supporters to use the party’s official memorial logo or images of Baikpeh on social media and other public platforms. It further called on churches, mosques and other religious communities to pray for the bereaved family.
While commemorating Baikpeh, the CDC youth wing sharply criticized the government, accusing the current administration of neglecting Liberia’s young people and failing to adequately address unemployment, poverty and what it described as systemic deprivation.
The group also expressed concern over the country’s drug crisis, alleging that high-ranking government officials, including Inspector General of Police Gregory Coleman, have been implicated in facilitating the influx of narcotics into Liberia. The statement did not provide evidence for the allegation.
The youth league further criticized the Ministry of Youth and Sports, claiming that youth development initiatives have been reduced to short-term, three-week sweeping contracts instead of sustainable employment opportunities and long-term empowerment programs.
The group said the situation was unacceptable in a country where young people make up a significant majority of the population, arguing that Liberia’s abundant resources should be used to create better opportunities for its youth.
The Revolutionary National Youth League praised former President and CDC Political Leader George M. Weah for what it described as his foresight in bringing opposition leaders together to discuss national unity and a new political direction.
The group said the recent meeting of opposition leaders represents a national call to challenge the current Boakai administration and work collectively toward what it termed the “redemption” of Liberia.
