By: H. Matthew Turry
MONROVIA – In a decisive move signaling a quest for moderation and national unity in Liberia’s often- polarised political landscape, the Liberia Political Centrism Movement (LPCM) was officially launched on Saturday, November 22, 2025 in Monrovia. Under the banner, “Building an Inclusive Liberia for All, Void of Destructive Political Orientation,” the launch event was framed as a defining moment intended to usher in a “new era of issue-based political engagement.”
The launch—which drew over 100 diverse supporters, including community leaders, professionals, and students—began with a symbolic Grand March for Peace and Consciousness before moving to an indoor panel discussion at the Monrovia Christian Fellowship Hall in Sinkor. Attendees, sporting Centrism-branded T-shirts in Liberia’s national colours, visually underscored the Movement’s core commitment to unity and solidarity amidst prevailing political tensions.
The Movement’s founder and Chairperson, Cllr. Kanio Bai Gbala, delivered a powerful statement that established the ideological foundation of the LPCM. He candidly revealed that the Movement was not a product of typical political ambition but was “born from pain.” This emotional core was directly linked to the deep societal divisions witnessed during the 2023 elections, where he observed the fracturing of friendships and families, replaced by suspicion and sharp disagreement.
To create a unified visual identity, attendees wore their Centrism-branded T-shirts, symbolizing
Liberia’s national colors and the Movement’s commitment to unity. Organizers emphasized that
this show of solidarity is crucial at a time when political polarization remains a concern in the
country’s national discourse.
The organization presents itself as an alternative political voice committed to bridging divides,
strengthening governance, and promoting civic responsibility. Its mission centers on peace
building, issue-based politics, social cohesion, and responsible leadership beyond partisan lines
or ideological extremes.
Cllr. Gbala’s reflection posed a fundamental question to the nation: “Must Liberia always walk on the edge? Must our politics always tear us apart?” His answer, a resounding “no,” led to the vision for a movement that prioritizes balance, reason, listening, and patriotism over bitterness, anger, shouting, and partisanship.
A central and critical theme of the launch was the devastating legacy of the civil war and the need to actively combat the “national vices” that led to the death of over 250,000 Liberians. Cllr. Gbala identified these vices as “Greed, exclusion, corruption, hatred, abuse of power, and winner-takes-all politics.” He declared that any nation that continues to feed these destructive forces is “walking toward destruction,” and positioned Centrism as the necessary antidote
According to the Chairperson, Centrism is a philosophy that insists the country’s survival hinges on balance, recognizing that not everything is “left” or “right” and not everything is exclusively for one group or party. He invoked a quote from former U.S. President Barack Obama, stating, “We are not as divided as our politics suggest,” to underscore the Movement’s belief that Liberia is bigger than its disagreements and that progress requires all parties, all tribes, all counties, and all citizens working together.
Cllr. Gbala took care to define centrism not as a sign of weakness, but as an act of courage. This courage is exemplified by the willingness “to stand between two angry sides and say, ‘There is a better way,’” and the determination “to insist on truth when lies are loud.” He advocated for political engagement that focuses on finding solutions rather than perpetuating arguments, stating unequivocally that Liberia belongs on the “usable surface,” far away from “the gutters of political extremism.”
The Movement’s leadership extended gratitude to its backbone—the Executive Steering Committee, Secretariat, county and district leaders, and Diaspora Network—for building a national movement from a “fragile dream.”
Addressing the youth specifically, Cllr. Gbala called them the “heartbeat” of the Movement, promising a country where ideas matter more than insults, talent matters more than tribalism, and their future is “not controlled by old divisions.” The LPCM’s launch, therefore, serves as a public declaration that Liberia chooses peace, unity, and the center, refusing to regress to its conflict-ridden past.
“To every Liberian who still believes in unity: This Movement is yours. You are the reason we stand here today. As Founder and Chairperson, I make you a simple promise, I will walk with you. I will listen to you. I will build with you,” he concluded.