Movement for Justice in Africa

Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA) [1] is a leftist pan-African political organization that is mostly active in Liberia, with chapters in Ghana and The Gambia. It was founded in 1973 by Togba Nah Tipoteh, who remains its president. Early members include Henry Boimah Fahnbulleh, Dew Tuan-Wreh Mason, Amb. Company B. Wesseh Sr currently a senator representing River Gee County.[2] Amos Sawyer, who served as President of the Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) in 1990-94, and Kukoi Samba Sanyang, a Gambian revolutionary who had been one of the leaders of a coup attempt in Banjul in 1981.

Movement for Justice in Africa
Founded1973
IdeologySocial democracy
Democratic socialism
Pan-Africanism
Political positionCentre-left to left-wing
National affiliationLiberian People's Party

MOJA played a pivotal role in the struggle for social justice and democracy in Liberia. Through its sensitization work in the 1970s, it raised national political consciousness to an unprecedentedly high level, radicalizing the mass of urban and rural poor and sections of the military. The heightened political consciousness and the agitation it precipitated led to the collapse of the settler oligarchy which had ruled Liberia in a manner, not unlike colonialism for over a century.

Movement for Justice in Africa Gambia

In the Gambia, Africa Contemporary Record states that the Movement for Justice in Africa (Moja-G)[3] as a group published an underground newspaper, The Voice of the Future which was prosecuted. The leaders of Moja-G escaped prosecution for publishing the paper on a technicality, according to the Africa Contemporary Record article. The group drew its support from disaffected youth in the Banjul-Serrekunda conurbation and attacked the PPP government and the country's colonial past. The Europa publication Africa South of the Sahara 1989 further states that Moja-G had ideological affinities with a movement with the same name in Liberia, which worked for the eventually successful overthrow of the Tolbert regime in that country MOJA has waned in significance in recent years. But in early 2007, efforts aimed at reviving the movement were initiated. The group operated as a self-styled Marxist group, rejecting parliamentary opposition as futile and advocated extreme political measures. In Gambia's Pre- Crisis phase of Gambia's political evolution (February 18, 1965-October 26, 1980), after PPP political party won the elections, the Movement for Justice in Africa – Gambia (MOJA-Gambia) was established by Koro Sallah in 1979 as part of the response to the PPP.[4] However, during the Crisis Phase (October 27, 1980-February 8, 1985), President Jawara banned two opposition groups, MOJA-Gambia and the Gambia Socialist Revolutionary Party (GSRP) headed by Pingon Georges, for their involvement in the rebellion on November 1, 1980.[4] Degenhardt's Revolutionary and Dissident Movements states that the group was under investigation by the authorities for the burning of boats in Gambian ports and that the founder of Moja-G, Koro Sallah, was killed in an attempted coup in July 1981.[3]

MOJA participates in elections under the name Liberian People's Party.

References
  1. The British Museum. "Movement for Justice in Africa".
  2. https://www.liberianobserver.com/news/conmany-wesseh-wins-river-gee/
  3. UNHCR, The UN Refugee Agency (June 1, 1989). "Movement for Justice in Africa".
  4. University of Central Arkansas - UCA. "Gambia (1965-present)". Political Science.
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