Speaking at her farewell press conference in Monrovia, outgoing US Ambassador Deborah Malac had a grim outlook on the security situation in Liberia.

“Mob violence continues to be a concern for us that has gone out of control,” she said. Malac added that citizens needed to play a role “in ensuring security and stability of the state.”

However, America needs to put its money where its mouth is by investing in a sustainable democratic system in Liberia where there are justice, accountability and equal opportunities to counter the growing threat of mob violence.

Contrary to the perception in Liberia that diplomatic missions, including the Embassy of the United States and the Embassy of China, are in Liberia to help Liberians or serve in the interest of the Liberian people, these diplomatic posts are in Liberia to serve the interest of their respective countries.

Liberian leaders, on the other hand, are elected and paid only to serve the Liberian people. When it comes to matters of security and mob violence, the interests of the Liberian people and America converge. Therefore, it’s not a surprise that the ambassador is raising her concerns about mob violence because peace and security affect not only Liberians but also American citizens and American businesses in Liberia.

There are many things that citizens of Liberia can bring under control, which are out of the control of the US Ambassador, the United Nations or the president of Liberia. These include the problem of mob violence, corruption, and ritualistic killings.  It is important that Liberian citizens first feel a sense of ownership in their own country. Without that first step, mob violence is inevitable.

I recall speaking to hundreds of ordinary Liberians displaced by war in Monrovia in 1990. By then, Liberian politicians had fled the war to their hideouts in America. When asked what they would do differently in regards to corruption in Liberia, the response was shockingly the same from everyone: “When I get in power, I will eat my own too. If J.J. Roberts didn’t build Liberia, dat me going to build Liberia? I will build my house with government money. ”

The problem in Liberia is not only caused by the president or the legislator or Liberian politicians – the problem is the flawed system of governance in Liberia. This system must be replaced with a better system that values ordinary citizens as the boss and ensures that the government is merely the servant.

Although Article I of the Liberian Constitution acknowledges the supremacy of ordinary citizens, most Liberians are subjugated to perpetually being in an underclass because they must always petition their elected officials for change. When petitions from citizens are not in the interest of legislators, change becomes impossible. Why should the boss with supreme powers (the citizens, in this case) be overruled by the servants (legislators)? Why should public servants determine their own salaries? It makes no sense whatsoever!  That’s the system we have.

Under the flawed Liberian system, politicians are the boss and citizens are servants. For example, unelected mayors arbitrarily impose taxes on businesses and residents. Liberian Legislators earn far higher salaries than many lawmakers in Europe and America.

The Liberian president wields more powers than President Obama, the Pope and Queen Elizabeth. She appoints all mayors of all cities in the country, all heads of public corporations, all governors of all political subdivisions and all heads of all public corporations.

Under the current system, graduation from the University of Liberia is meaningless and poor citizens have no options other than to dream of traveling overseas. Visas to travel to America has become cash generating mechanism for the American Embassy, which grants visa to Liberian politicians but denies ordinary citizens without justifications.

Public service in Liberia is always the primary avenue for politicians to enrich themselves.

The former Foreign Minister, Augustine Ngafuan, begged the United Nations and the United States not for justice but rather to lift sanction imposed on the associates of convicted war criminal, Charles Taylor to freely travel.

Under the current Liberian system, the people lack access to equal opportunities and a sense of ownership or justice. This, I believe, is what fuels the rising mob violence, coupled with the “I will eat my own too” mentality.

Because the interest of the United States and the Liberians converge on the matter of security, the US ambassador needs to move beyond merely preaching to the choir and urging her country to invest in empowering ordinary Liberians in bringing about the necessary change such as citizens initiatives that exists in the European Union and America but nowhere in Africa.

Recently, the United States allocated US$500,000 to fund rebels in Syria. As a result, 60 rebels were trained. The United States needs to make similar investment in cultivating participatory democracy and citizens’ initiatives to ensure that the politicians in Liberia are not the masters of the republic.

Without any serious investment to empower citizens along the path of sustainable democracy, mob action in Liberia and other undemocratic countries in the world will end up harming America’s interest. Now is the time. Tomorrow may be too late.  Madam Ambassador, action speaks louder than words!

Featured photo by U.S. Army Africa/Will Patterson