After months of planning, Henry Costa lead an anti-government protest. He arrived in Liberia on December 19, 2019 using a laissez-passer document to enter the country. To much surprise, the government allowed the protest on January 6, 2020.
The issue arose as he tried to leave Liberia. Authorities realized that Costa did not qualify for a laissez-passer since he was a valid passport holder and according to immigration officials, the features that are embedded in the document were not valid. Noting, even the signature and the official seal on his photograph are fake. Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that falsifying travel document violates Liberia’s immigration laws. Costa alleges that an acquaintance of his procured the laisse-passer on his behalf. Immigration officials then requested Costa to stay in the country until their investigation is complete.
Costa then fled to Sierra Leone to avoid investigation. On January 15, 2020, the government of Liberia requested that Sierra Leone extradite Costa back to Liberia. Sierra Leone government refused under pressure from political groups in Liberia and their international conduits. Subsequently, providing Costa a means of escape.
