On the heel of public misunderstanding in distinguishing the difference the National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL) and a ‘so-called group under the banner of Civil Society Network of Liberia (CSNL), the Council has set the record straight by providing clarity between the two.’
The CSO Council, which is the acclaimed and recognized umbrella organization for all civil society organizations in the country, pointed out that views and actions expressed by CNSL are not to the full knowledge or endorsement of the CSOs’ governing body as it does not know about the existence of any group called Civil Society Network.
The NCSCL statement, which was issued on Thursday, June 12, 2025 comes on the heel of recent action by CNSL, to rally support for Monrovia City Mayor, John Charuk Siafa, who has been accused of corruption.
The mayor has been in the middle of string of alleged financial and administrative breaches, including unauthorized payments, procurement irregularities, audit obstruction, conflict of interest, and politically motivated staffing decisions—painting a troubling picture of a city government under strain. Despite all this, CNSL has come out to the public glare in total defense of the under-fire Mayor.
Accordingly, as the CSO Council distances itself, it cautions the public, media institutions, and political actors against engaging with or associating with unauthorized groups that use the banner of civil society to further personal or political agendas such as CNSL.
“The group in question is neither known nor recognized by the National Civil Society Council, and our leadership or membership knows no individuals associated with it. We caution the public, media institutions, and political actors against engaging with or associating themselves with unauthorized groups that use the banner of civil society to further personal or political agendas. Such actions mislead, undermine the integrity of the civil society sector, and erode public trust,” said the statement signed by Chairperson Madam Loretta Alethea Pope-Kai.
The NCSCL strongly condemns this misuse of civil society identity and warns that any future attempt to manipulate or misrepresent the sector for political shielding will be met with a coordinated civic response.
“Civil society in Liberia plays a critical role in advancing democracy, good governance, and national development, and we take that responsibility seriously,” the statement furthered.
The NCSCL says it remains the legitimate umbrella body of over 1,500 registered civil society organizations across Liberia, adding: “Our members operate transparently and are always accountable for their actions. We encourage the public to remain vigilant and to continue to support credible, lawful civic engagement.”