Monrovia – Ecowas is making another attempt to break the deadlock during Liberia’s legislative crisis. A high-level delegation is scheduled to arrive in Monrovia on Sunday, hoping to end the impasse that has crippled the House. With signs of urgency, the speaker J. Fonati Koffa, who fought, has shortened his US trip to meet with the delegation at their request, Liberian investigators learned.
This latest intervention is to close the gap between war factions in the Liberian parliament following the failure of the previous Ecowas mission led by right Hajja Memonatu Ibrahima, Ecowas chairperson, Ecowas. The delegation, who spent nearly a week in Monrovia from November 11th to 16th, 2024, failed to lead Procofa and anti-Cofa forces to consensus.
The crisis stems primarily from the MP’s gro from the ruling unified party, calling for Kofa’s resignation and vows to never recognize his authority. Meanwhile, Coffa stands in his position and declares that he will not succumb to pressure, arguing that all legislative measures must be guided by constitutional principles.
In a mediation mission that failed last November, Ekowas attracted key stakeholders, including President Joseph N. Boachey, Foreign Minister Shia a Á Neen Yuo, Foreign Minister Sarah Bethorrow Nyanti and Senate Speaker Nyonburu Khanga Lawrence. Additionally, we consulted civil society groups to assess the wider impact of the legislative stalemate. Despite several high-stake negotiations, both factions refused to move from their established positions and forced their delegation to depart without resolution.
“The Congressional delegation pointed out that the parties were unable to reach a favorable conclusion within the mission’s time frame. However, we are fully involved and committed to ensuring that the desired outcome is achieved,” the ECOWAS team said in the closing communica- tion.
High stake operations
Ghanaian speaker Alban Baghbin, who was recently in Liberia in what appears to be a regular legislative retreat, promptly challenged the diplomacy of the crisis once the severity of the situation was realized. Bagbin and his Sierra Leone counterpart Matthew Sahr Nyumah were invited to a three-day retreat organized by the majority bloc under the theme of “Unity, Honesty and Modernization.” However, sources told investigators in Liberia that Bagbin speaker chose to meet President Boachescher in exchange for attending the retreat.
Legislative sources stated, “The chairman of the Ghanaian parliament had no full grasp of the crisis until he arrived. He had no full grasp of the crisis until he arrived. He refused to attend the setback and instead began a series of meetings with both the president, the legislative bloc and even the speakers over the phone.”
Bugbin also met with former presidents George Weir and Ellen Johnson Sirleef. However, his intervention did not resolve immediately as both factions remained entrenched.
Surreef, Judicial Weight
Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleef has expressed deep concern over the Supreme Court’s handling of the legislative impasse. At the second Naymote-Liberia summit on democracy and political accountability two weeks ago, Sirelaf warned that an unclear judicial ruling could further destabilise governance.
“Now is not the time for the Supreme Court to issue an ambiguous decision that could take us out of peaceful resolution of the chaos unfolding in another important branch of the government,” Sirleef argued, urging the court to provide a decisive decision.
The Supreme Court in its Dec. 6, 2024 ruling granted its authority over constitutional disputes, but stopped providing direct resolutions and instead postponed the matter to the Congress itself. The decision “is very high sitting or action by members of parliament who do not comply with the intentions of Articles 33 and 49 of the Constitution.” With this declaration, both factions claimed victory and promoted further division.
Speaking during his February term of court opening in Nimba County in February, Judge Yammy Gubeisay took a strong stance and declared that the actions of the majority of the bloc exceeded legal authority. His remarks raised political tensions as they were interpreted as a signal that the Supreme Court’s refusal to attend President Boaches’ national speech lacked a legally recognized speaker in Congress.
Expectations
With Ecowas returning for new mediation, there is high hope that the local body will use its diplomatic weight to break deadlocks.
ECOWAS Congress recently rejected the majority of Block Chairman Richard Koon’s request to replace three members of the country’s delegation with regional councils. In a letter dated March 7, 2025, in a letter addressed to Prime Minister Mildred N. Sayon, acting Ecowas K. Bertine, some legal provisions cited legal provisions excluding early removal of representatives.
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“We acknowledge the receipt of your letter dated February 25, 2025 regarding the recall of three members designated by the Liberian House of Representatives to serve the Ekowas Parliament,” wrote some. “Following a thorough review of your request, I would like to inform you that in accordance with section 18.1.2 of the Supplementary Act on Enhancement of the Powers of ECOWAS Parliament, orders for regional lawmakers are set regularly for four years.
According to the letter, Ecowas legislators may only be recalled in the event of non-election, death, voluntary resignation, recognized incompetence, incompatibility with other obligations, or rejection of fraud, according to the letter. The three Liberian representatives in question – Samuel R. Enders, Sr., Moimabrigsmensa and Taa Z. Wonbe, do not meet these criteria.
“Therefore, we cannot affect their alternatives,” some concluded.
