-Following Supreme Court Ruling On House Impasse
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, – Declaring that Liberia’s government “will not be held hostage,” President Joseph Nyuma Boakai announced on Thursday his administration would work with the available legislative quorum, after the Supreme Court declared all actions taken by the House of Representatives’ majority bloc unconstitutional if conducted without the elected Speaker presiding—unless the Speaker is formally absent or incapacitated.
The President’s resolve comes following the Supreme Court ruling in the House of Representatives impasse and amid escalating instability, including the recent arson attack on the Capitol Building and new reports of vandalism targeting state institutions—acts he condemned as efforts to “sow chaos” in a nation already grappling with political dysfunction.
In a special statement delivered late Thursday,
Boakai asserted that his administration would adhere to the Supreme Court’s definition of a quorum to ensure governance continues. “We will work with the quorum that ensures the full functioning of our government,” he said. The Executive and Senate have been working with the self-styled “Majority Bloc”, since the birth of the impasse.
However, Koffa has been unable to acquire 29 of his colleagues (Him making them 30) to conduct business, as required by Article 33 of the 1986 constitution of the Republic of Liberia. Undoubtedly, this has hindered his ability to take hold of his post. Article 33 states that… “A simple majority of each House shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business, but a lower number may adjourn from day to day and compel the attendance of absent members. Whenever the House of Representatives and the Senate shall meet in joint session, the presiding officer of the House of
Representatives shall preside.”
Meanwhile, the President revealed ongoing “broad consultations” with traditional leaders and stakeholders to forge a constitutional path forward but warned against obstructionism: “We are a country governed by laws, not by mobs or self-serving ambition.”
The President linked the violence to the political impasse, accusing unnamed actors of exploiting the turmoil. “Those who undermine peace will face the full force of the law,” he vowed, ordering heightened security around government facilities.
With public trust in the legislature eroding, Boakai urged Liberians to remain calm but vigilant. He called on lawmakers to prioritize their oaths to the nation over partisan interests and appealed for unity: “Liberia is bigger than any one person, party, or position.”
The impasse
The standoff stems from a controversial leadership change on November 21, 2024, when Koon was elected Speaker in a disputed vote, replacing Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa. Koffa’s supporters allege procedural violations and constitutional breaches, branding the transition as fraudulent.
Since then, the “Majority Bloc” has taken aggressive measures, including: Suspending 16 out of 73 lawmakers, predominantly from the minority bloc, leaving thousands of citizens without representation, restructuring House leadership without consensus.
- Authorizing the forceful treatment of dissenting lawmakers, and orchestrating a break-in into Representative Yekeh Kolubah’s vehicle under Koon’s directives. The period of the dispute has also displayed an arson attack on the Capitol Building, which the Liberia National Police (LNP) confirmed was deliberately set.
Despite the Supreme Court’s earlier December 2024 ruling* that the Majority Bloc’s actions were “ultra vires” (beyond legal authority), both the Executive Branch and the Liberian Senate endorsed Koon’s leadership on December 10, 2024, further entrenching the divide. Efforts by ECOWAS, the Inter-Religious Council, and other mediators have failed to broker a resolution. Meanwhile, former President George Weah, opposition leader Alexander B. Cummings, the Press Union of Liberia**, and civil society groups have urged compliance with the Court’s decision to prevent further institutional breakdown.
