Monrovia — Liberia’s opposition political leaders have agreed to establish a steering committee to develop a framework for sustained political collaboration, following a high-level roundtable hosted and presided over by former President George Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change on Sunday.
The meeting, held at the Jamaica Resort in Thinker’s Village, Paynesville, brought together leaders and representatives of several opposition parties to explore greater cooperation and collective engagement on national political issues ahead of the 2029 elections.
Under the agreement, the steering committee will comprise two representatives from each participating political party.
The committee is expected to develop a framework document outlining the nature, structure and guiding principles of the proposed collaboration, including how the participating parties will coordinate their positions and engage collectively on issues of national importance.
Participants emphasized that the framework is not an electoral alliance or an agreement on a 2029 presidential ticket. Instead, it is intended to provide a foundation for political cooperation and establish how the parties will work together going forward.
Among the prominent political leaders in attendance were Alexander Cummings of the Alternative National Congress; Musa Hassan Bility, Citizens Movement for Change (CMC), Simeon Freeman of the Movement for Progressive Change (MPC), D. Maxwell Kemayah, Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE).
The All Liberian Party led by businessman Benoni Urey, was represented at the gathering.
Several senior CDC officials also attended, including former Speaker of the House of Representatives J. Alex Tyler, former Speaker of the 54th National Legislature Bhofal Chambers, and other party officials.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, former President Weah described the gathering as the beginning of a series of engagements intended to promote greater unity among opposition political forces.
MPC Political Leader Simeon Freeman said the participating leaders are expected to reconvene within the next two weeks at another venue to continue discussions and advance the process.
Lessons From Past Alliances
Sunday’s agreement represents the latest attempt by Liberia’s opposition to overcome political divisions and establish a common platform for collective action.
In 2016, opposition leaders gathered in Ganta, Nimba County, where they reached an agreement aimed at coordinating their efforts ahead of the 2017 presidential and legislative elections. However, the initiative failed to produce a lasting political alliance.
Another major effort came three years later with the formation of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), which brought together the Unity Party, ANC, ALP and Liberty Party.
Although the CPP established a common political platform, internal disagreements and competing political interests eventually weakened the coalition, leading to its collapse.
For ANC Political Leader Alexander Cummings, however, the latest initiative offers reason for optimism.
Cummings, a key figure in the former CPP arrangement, said the current process is still in its early stages but expressed confidence that it can succeed if the parties remain focused on their broader objective.
He said the initiative is not about elevating any individual but about opposition parties coming together to hold the government accountable.
“They are in power, and they are managing our resources. We will unite and be the voice of the Liberian people in holding the government accountable,” Cummings said.
Bility Joins Opposition Push
CMC Political Leader Musa Hassan Bility, who initially declined the invitation to the roundtable, later accepted and attended the meeting.
Speaking at the press conference, Bility welcomed the gathering and said the focus should remain on the interests of ordinary Liberians.
“We are happy that we are able to come together. It is about the Liberian people, united under one voice to advocate for them and to rescue them from the so-called rescuers,” Bility said.
The formation of the steering committee now places the opposition parties at the next stage of the process, with its proposed framework expected to determine whether the latest effort can overcome the divisions that undermined previous attempts at opposition unity.
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