The International Justice Group based in the United States has welcomed the imposition of sanctions on the Mayor of Monrovia— Jefferson Koijeem who doubles as the Secretary General of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change, CDC.

“The sanctions have become very necessary! impunity, justice, corruption, accountability are the issues that are very, very necessary to define the new Liberia,: IJG Executive Director Jerome Verdier asserts.

On Friday, the United States Department of Treasury Office of Foreign Asset Control designated Monrovia City Mayor— Jefferson Koijee for human rights violations and acts of corruption.

https://lr.usembassy.gov/u-s-treasury-department-designates-mayor-of-monrovia-jefferson-koijee-for-human-rights-abuses-and-corruption/

Mayor Koijee is listed among a number of individuals around the world who the US Department of Treasury listed as “perpetrators of human Rights abuse” around the world in a press release issued in Washington Friday.

The imposition of the sanctions on the youthful Mayor is in line with the 76th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

In its release Friday, the United States government went on to catalogue a list of allegations of human rights abuses and other violent incidents the CDC Secretary General is said to have been the brain behind.

The latest sanctioning of Koijee brings to six the number of Liberian government officials slapped with US sanctions under the George Weah administration.

Washington accused the mayor of having a reputation for fueling violence and has a powerful control on Monrovia’s youth.

They alleged that he controls paramilitary-style organizations associated with the CDC which allegedly recruits former combatants and recently released prisoners.

The United States noted that Koijee has instructed these organizations to violently disrupt demonstrations conducted by government critics or political opposition.

Meanwhile, Washington alleged that Koijee and his supporters have been involved in several violence from 2019-2023, leaving several people injured.

Additionally, the release noted that Koijee has also engaged in corrupt acts, including bribery and misappropriation of state assets for use by private political movements and pressuring anti-corruption investigators to halt corruption investigations among others.

Speaking when he appeared on a local talk show during the weekend, Counselor IJG Executive Director Jerome Verdier, who is also former Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, said Koijee has roamed the Liberian capital, reportedly creating fear and terror among the ordinary people and there are stuck piled of evidences  to  prosecute and his collaborators.

However, Koijee has responded to the allegations saying: “To God be the glory, it is well. Long live the blue revolution. Till death, we’ll remain steadfast in serving the dreams and aspirations of our people. Never broken !”

SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS

https://lr.usembassy.gov/u-s-treasury-department-designates-mayor-of-monrovia-jefferson-koijee-for-human-rights-abuses-and-corruption/

As a result of today’s actions, all property and interests in property of the designated persons described above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, individually or in the aggregate, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. Unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt, OFAC’s regulations generally prohibit all transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or otherwise blocked persons.

In addition, financial institutions and other persons that engage in certain transactions or activities with the sanctioned entities and individuals may expose themselves to sanctions or be subject to an enforcement action. The prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any designated person, or the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person.

The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC’s ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior.

For example, the Department of the Treasury notes recent attempts by the Uganda Prisons Service to implement human rights-related measures, but these measures fall short. Should Byabashaija implement effective measures to eliminate torture and impunity, increase independent human rights monitoring, ban forced anal examinations and other forms of abuse used to target LGBTQI+ persons and others, ensure protections for vulnerable persons and groups, and improve overall prison conditions, the Department of the Treasury will consider those to be changes of behavior that would potentially result in his removal from the SDN List.

For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC’s Frequently Asked Question 897 here . For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please click here .

GLOBAL MAGNITSKY

Building upon the Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act, E.O. 13818 was issued on December 20, 2017, in recognition that the prevalence of human rights abuse and corruption that have their source, in whole or in substantial part, outside the United States, had reached such scope and gravity as to threaten the stability of international political and economic systems. Human rights abuse and corruption undermine the values that form an essential foundation of stable, secure, and functioning societies; have devastating impacts on individuals; weaken democratic institutions; degrade the rule of law; perpetuate violent conflicts; facilitate the activities of dangerous persons; and undermine economic markets. The United States seeks to impose tangible and significant consequences on those who commit serious human rights abuse or engage in corruption, as well as to protect the financial system of the United States from abuse by these same persons.