This archive report was first published on 13 October 2019.
On October 10, 2019, Liberian police closed down Roots FM, a radio station critical of President George Weah's government, accusing it of inciting violence.
Roots FM, owned by Henry Costa, had been a vocal critic of Weah's administration, which took power in January 2018 after a presidential election.
Costa, who was in the United States at the time, was defiant in the face of the shutdown, saying, "It is indeed a very sad day, but I can assure you that we will never be silenced."
The police action was met with protests, with supporters of the radio station gathering outside the building and being dispersed by tear gas.
Liberia's solicitor general, Cyrinus Cephus, accused the station of blackmailing people and instigating violence, saying, "They have begun criminal acts of extortion and blackmail. They use their media to spread inflammatory messages against Liberian citizens, and engage in incitement."
