Hundreds of protesters gathered on Saturday at the outer section of the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Monrovia to protest against soaring costs of living, a day before President George Weah’s return from a 48-day trip abroad. Since early December, the price of rice – Liberia’s staple food – increased from $15 to $17.50 for each 25kg bag. This increase came off the heels of a commodity shortage that has led to long queues and inflated prices of rice and other items, partly due to disruption of global supply as Russia’s war continues in Ukraine. The protests were held a day before Weah’s return on Sunday from his trip, which included a visit to Qatar to watch his son play for the USA football team in the FIFA World Cup. While the presidency has said the trip was an official one and government officials have claimed that the trip has produced dividends for the country, opposition figures say it was a waste of scarce resources..
SOURCE: AL JAZEERA
More Stories
Tinubu Hits the Ground Running
Russian Minister Makes a Quick Stop in Nairobi
Four Men Absolved of Drug Trafficking in Liberia Disappear
Governments in Sub-Saharan Africa Struggle to Regulate the Mass Expansion of Online Gambling
Why Returns from European Countries are Hugely Unpopular in Most African Countries
A $3 billion IMF Bailout Will Not Instantly Solve Ghana’s Economic Problems
Can Kenya Successfully Establish Efficient and Affordable Smartphone Manufacturing?
How to Be a Female Politician in Africa
Egyptian Firm Unveils IoT-enabled Smartwatch
Women at the Forefront of Africa’s Peace Efforts
With ‘Banel & Adama,’ Ramata-Toulaye Sy Takes Her Place Among Cannes’ Top Names
The Lion Sleeps Tonight: One Song’s Journey from 1930s South Africa to Disney Money-Spinner