The rally was meant to protest at the West African country's deepening economic crisis, but its organisers said there was lack of protection for protestors. On Monday, the Council of Patriots (COP) opposition said it had called the rally off after the government said it was unable to provide security and after international observers recommended postponement. COP Chairman Henry Costa, who helped footballer-turned-president Weah come to power, insisted the protest would take place nonetheless. Still traumatised by back-to-back civil wars and the 2014-2016 Ebola crisis, Liberia is struggling to revive its failing economy. Inflation is rampant, according to the World Bank, and civil servants regularly go unpaid.

Source: The Guardian December 30, 2019 15:33 UTC