The Liberian government on Saturday said it would not allow an anti-government protest in the capital Monrovia before the end of January , as opposition groups insisted it would go ahead.

Opponents have called for the protest in the capital Monrovia on Monday as the impoverished country grapples with a deep economic crisis .

But the ministry of justice on Saturday said it would defer all requests for permits to stage demonstrations and rallies until January 30 .

“ All are advised to take heed and govern themselves accordingly , ” it said .
“ There will be no peaceful assembly, protest, counter -protest and demonstration until a decision is made on January 30, 2020 , ” it added.

Tensions have risen in recent weeks in the run -up to the protest, with the government accusing the opposition of calling for the “ unconstitutional eviction” of President George Weah , who took office in January 2018 and is under growing pressure over his handling of the crisis .

Henry Costa , chairman of youth activists called the Council of Patriots ( COP ) who helped footballer -turned -president Weah come to power , told AFP: “ On December 30 th we are going to have our peaceful assembly at the capitol building . We are sleeping there . No one should fool you that there is no protest. ”

On Friday , The Economic Community of West African States ( ECOWAS ) and the UN ’ s office in West Africa and the Sahel ( UNOWAS) issued a joint statement exhorting “ all parties to work towards calling off this imminent protest in the general interest of Liberia and the sub -region. ”

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.

ECOWAS and UNOWAS said in their joint statement Friday that while they recognised citizens’ right of assembly , they “ reminded all stakeholders of their responsibility to maintain peace , security and stability of Liberia … and cautioned against any form of violence ” .

Source:- Punchng.

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