Liberia: Ecowas Mediation Group Urges All Parties in House Leadership Impasse to Respect Supreme Court Ruling

MONROVIA – The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has intervened in Liberia’s escalating political crisis, calling for peace and strict adherence to the rule of law as tensions rise over House leadership disputes.

ECOWAS Calls for Restraint Amid Political Crisis

Following a second high-level mediation mission to Liberia this month, ECOWAS officials are urging rival factions within the House of Representatives to respect the impending Supreme Court ruling regarding Speaker J. Fonati Koffa’s contested leadership.

The three-day mediation effort, led by Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, sought to de-escalate tensions that have paralyzed Liberia’s legislature. The delegation included key regional diplomats and governance experts from ECOWAS’ political affairs and electoral assistance departments.

High-Level Consultations Conducted

During their visit, the ECOWAS team met with:

• President Joseph Nyuma Boakai
• Former Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Manneh Weah
• Foreign Minister Sarah Beysolow Nyanti
• House leadership and international community representatives

Professor Gambari emphasized in his closing statement: “The Mission urges all stakeholders to respect the impending ruling of the Supreme Court and develop a roadmap to promptly end the impasse in the House of Representatives.”

The Speaker Controversy at Heart of Crisis

The political deadlock centers on Speaker Koffa’s legitimacy, challenged by a self-declared Majority Bloc that controversially elected Richard Koon as alternative Speaker. This action has been challenged before the Supreme Court through a Bill of Information filed by Koffa’s legal team.

During recent Supreme Court hearings, Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh strongly criticized the Majority Bloc’s methods: “Even if your clients are 100 in number, they don’t have the right to impose themselves as the majority bloc.” Justice Yusuf Kaba further clarified that Liberia’s Constitution requires a formal two-thirds majority process for speaker removal.

Constitutional Concerns Raised

The Court has reserved its ruling but highlighted several critical issues:

• Potential violation of constitutional procedures
• Risks of parallel legislative sessions creating chaos
• Need to preserve institutional integrity

Regional Implications and Next Steps

ECOWAS’ intervention underscores the regional importance of resolving Liberia’s political disputes peacefully. As the country awaits the Supreme Court’s decision, the outcome will significantly impact:

• Liberia’s democratic stability
• Functionality of legislative processes
• West Africa’s broader political landscape

The mediation group has called for increased security measures ahead of the Court’s ruling and urged international partners to support peaceful resolution efforts.