-As Political Deadlock Deepens
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is making a renewed effort to resolve Liberia’s protracted legislative crisis, which has paralyzed the House of Representatives and threatened the country’s governance. A high-level ECOWAS delegation is scheduled to arrive in Monrovia on Sunday, March 23, in a bid to break the political impasse that has divided lawmakers and stalled critical legislative functions.
In a formal communication to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Liberia, the ECOWAS Office outlined the mission’s objectives and composition. The delegation, led by Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria, includes prominent figures such as Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, and Mr. Ebenezer Asiedu, Head of Democracy and Good Governance at the ECOWAS Commission.
Other members of the mission include Mr. Serigne Mamadou Ka, Acting Head of Electoral Assistance; Mr. Constant Gnacadja, Acting Head of the Mediation, Conflict Resolution, and Peacebuilding Division; and Mr. Francis Acquah-Aikins, Executive Assistant to the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, who will serve as Special Assistant to the Mission.
The mission’s primary focus will be to engage with relevant parties and stakeholders to address the current impasse in the House of Representatives, which has been marred by a bitter leadership dispute. The crisis has not only disrupted legislative functions but also raised concerns about the stability of Liberia’s democratic institutions.
The ECOWAS Office has requested the Protocol Department of Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate the mission’s arrival at Roberts International Airport and arrange all necessary meetings during their stay. The flight itinerary will be communicated to the Ministry as soon as it is finalized.
The Initial Mission
The latest intervention comes after a previous ECOWAS mission, led by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, the Right Honourable Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, failed to broker a compromise between warring factions in the Liberian Legislature. That delegation, which spent nearly a week in Monrovia from November 11 to 16, 2024, was unable to bridge the divide between pro- and anti-Koffa lawmakers.
At the heart of the crisis is a bitter standoff over the leadership of the House of Representatives. A group of lawmakers, primarily from the ruling Unity Party, has demanded the resignation of Speaker J. Fonati Koffa, vowing not to recognize his authority. Koffa, however, has remained defiant, insisting that he will not yield to pressure and that all legislative actions must adhere to constitutional principles.
The failed November mediation saw ECOWAS engage key stakeholders, including President Joseph N. Boakai, Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh, Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti, and Senate President Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence. Civil society groups were also consulted to assess the broader implications of the legislative gridlock. Despite extensive negotiations, both factions remained entrenched in their positions, forcing the ECOWAS delegation to depart without a resolution.
In a closing communiqué, the ECOWAS team expressed disappointment but reaffirmed its commitment to resolving the crisis. “The parliamentary delegation notes that the parties were not able to arrive at a favorable conclusion within the timeframe of the mission. However, we remain fully engaged and committed to ensuring that the desired outcome is achieved,” the statement read.
High-Stakes Diplomacy
The urgency of the situation was underscored when Ghanaian Speaker Alban Bagbin, who was initially in Liberia for a routine legislative retreat, shifted focus to crisis diplomacy upon grasping the severity of the impasse. Bagbin, alongside his Sierra Leonean counterpart, Matthew Sahr Nyumah, had been invited to a three-day retreat organized by the majority bloc under the theme: “Unity, Integrity, and Modernization.” However, sources revealed that Bagbin opted to meet with President Boakai and other key figures instead of attending the retreat, wary of legitimizing the contested leadership of Richard Koon, who claims to be the rightful Speaker.
“The Speaker of the Ghanaian Parliament did not have a full grasp of the crisis until he arrived. After being briefed, he refused to attend the retreat and instead initiated a series of meetings with the President, both legislative blocs, and even Speaker Koffa via phone,” a legislative source disclosed.
Bagbin also met with former Presidents George Weah and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to better understand the political dynamics fueling the crisis. Despite his efforts, the mediation did not yield an immediate breakthrough, as both factions remained unyielding.
Former President Sirleaf and Judiciary Weigh In
Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has voiced concerns over the Supreme Court’s handling of the legislative impasse. Speaking at the NAYMOTE-Liberia Second Summit on Democracy and Political Accountability, Sirleaf warned that ambiguous judicial rulings could exacerbate the crisis.
“Now is not the time for the Supreme Court to deliver an ambiguous ruling that may take us away from peacefully resolving the disruption unfolding in another important branch of government,” Sirleaf asserted, urging the Court to provide a definitive decision.
The Supreme Court, in its December 6, 2024 ruling, acknowledged its authority over constitutional disputes but stopped short of offering a direct resolution. Instead, it deferred the matter to the Legislature, stating: “Any sittings or actions by members of the Legislature not in conformity with the intent of Articles 33 and 49 of the Constitution are ultra vires.” This ruling left both factions claiming victory while deepening the political divide.
Justice Yamie Gbeisay, speaking at the February Term of Court opening in Nimba County, took a firmer stance, declaring the Majority Bloc’s actions as beyond their legal authority. His remarks further heightened tensions, with the Supreme Court’s refusal to attend President Boakai’s State of the Nation Address interpreted as a signal that the Legislature lacks a legally recognized Speaker.
ECOWAS Rejects Recall of Liberian Delegates
ECOWAS recently rejected a request by Majority Bloc Speaker Richard Koon to recall and replace three members of Liberia’s delegation to the regional parliament. In a letter dated March 7, 2025, ECOWAS Acting Secretary-General K. Bertin Some cited legal provisions that bar the premature removal of serving representatives.
“Following a thorough review of your request, I wish to inform you that in accordance with Article 18.1.2 of the Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of ECOWAS Parliament, the mandate of Community Parliamentarians is set for a fixed term of four years,” Some wrote. He emphasized that members can only be recalled under specific circumstances, such as non-re-election, death, voluntary resignation, or misconduct—none of which apply to the three Liberian delegates in question: Samuel R. Enders, Sr., Moima Briggs-Mensah, and Taa Z. Wongbe.
