As all focus remain on the Supreme court hearing into the ongoing standoff at the House of Representatives, United States Ambassador, Mark Toner has spoken of the respect for the ‘rule of Law’.
Speaking Monday, November 25, when he visited former Liberian President George Manneh Weah at his Rehab residence, Ambassador Toner stated that the United States government was closely monitoring events on Capitol Hill and is looking to see how Liberia’s political process plays out peacefully and with ‘respect for the rule of law’.
Ambassador Tonor said that Liberia needs peace more than ever before and call on Liberian political leaders to show unity.
“The United States wants to see Liberia’s political process play out peacefully and with respect to the rule of law. Now more than ever, Liberia’s leaders past and present need to show unity.” Ambassador Mark Toner stated.
This week, former President George Manneh Weah, accused President Joseph Boakai of wanting to hijack the democratic gains of Liberia.
In recent days during a regular service at his church on Sunday, November 24, 2024, former President George Weah registered his concerns regarding the ongoing impasse at the House of Representatives, where some lawmakers have been asserting efforts to remove the Speaker.
Weah blamed the current administration for the situation and condemned the actions of lawmakers, stating: “They are trying to hijack democracy.”
Reflecting on Liberia’s tumultuous history, the former president noted, “This country has been struggling for years. We grew up in this country, and we were born here. We saw all the wars. April 12… you just name them. And we cried that there is time for Liberia to move forward, and we are just talking about moving forward; these people decided they want to go back.”
Weah, who strongly believes that the action is being supported by the Executive, emphasized the significance of peace for the nation.
The former President continued, “We want this country to be peaceful. Who will be what in the future will be, but let the country be peaceful.”
Weah expressed alarm over the current political climate, stating, “You see what’s going on? People are trying to hijack democracy. After Liberia has broken a record of true democracy, they are trying to oust the Speaker of the House, unconstitutionally.
And the entire world is watching. Nobody [wants to] speak. Unconstitutionally, they are trying to oust the speaker.”
Weah further criticized the actions of lawmakers, declaring, “These things are wrong. I always state my case to ECOWAS what they are doing. It was planned.” He called for unity among Liberians, urging them to protect the nation’s democratic principles.
“They are trying to hijack democracy, and we will not allow that to work. Every well-meaning Liberian, from lawyers to civil servants, needs to make sure that our laws are protected and democracy must prevail.”
The former President concluded with a warning about the consequences of undermining democracy. He cautioned, “We have broken records to uphold the rule of law and to protect democracy.
“We should not allow that to sail away. What they are playing with is not a joke. All the wars that came were because people were hijacking democracy, Weah sounded “.
On October 17, 2024, a faction of 47 members from the House of Representatives introduced a resolution to remove Speaker J. Fonati Koffa from his position. Since then, the situation has gotten complex.
On Thursday, November 21, 2024, Representative Richard Nagbe Koon of Montserrado County District #11 was elected and inducted as the “new Speaker” of the 55th Legislature of the Republic of Liberia.
This decision was made by reported 50 members of the Majority Bloc, who convened to endorse a resolution that removed Koffa from his position and declared the speakership vacant.
Koon’s election took place on a white ballot on Thursday, November 21, 2024, just minutes after the resolution was passed.
In a counter-response to his election and subsequent induction, several lawmakers from Koffa’s faction, who initially supported the resolution for his removal but later retracted their signatures, condemned the Majority Bloc’s actions as illegal.
During a press conference Monday, these lawmakers threatened legal action against the Majority Bloc, revealing that they have already consulted with their lawyers regarding the matter.
The Removal Attempt
The Majority Bloc of the House of Representatives, on Thursday, November 21, 2024, officially voted to remove Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa from his position as Speaker of the 55th Legislature of the Republic of Liberia. The resolution was supported by 50 representatives, according to the Bloc.
The resolution was read aloud during a session on Thursday by Acting Chief Clerk Comic Chea, following a motion introduced by Representative James Kolleh of Bong County.
The Bloc’s decision comes in the wake of a specialized committee’s report, which recommended that Koffa’s position be declared vacant due to his failure to respond to serious allegations raised by six lawmakers within the bloc.
Supreme Court Steps In
The Honorable Supreme Court of the Republic of Liberia over the weekend ordered the House of Representatives to return to the status quo ante, which refers to restoring the situation at the House to its previous state before actions by the self-styled “Majority Bloc” were taken.
This comes as part of a hearing scheduled for November 26, 2024, to address the constitutionality of certain actions taken by the self-styled “Majority Bloc” of the House of Representatives. The case will be presided over by Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene G. Yuoh and Associate Justices JameSetta L. Wolokolie, Yussif D. Kaba, Yamie Quiqui Geisay, and Ceaineh D. Clinton-Jonson.
“YOU ARE FURTHER COMMANDED to instruct the Minister of Justice and their returns referenced Members of the House of Representatives to file their OFFICIAL RETURNS to this Writ in the Office of the Clerk of this Honorable Court on or before the said 26 days of November A. L, 2024; and have the Members of the House of Representatives RETURN TO STATUS QUO ANTE and STAY ALL FURTHER PROCEEDINGS OR ACTIONS
PENDING THE DETERMINATION OF THE MATTER,” the official writ issued Friday states. Moreover, Brigadier General Amos B. Kesseh Dickson, Sr., Marshal of the Supreme Court, was directed to notify the Minister of Justice/Attorney General to appear before the full bench of the court. The Minister is required to file returns regarding the petition submitted by the plaintiffs, who are challenging the actions of some members of the legislative body.
The court has also instructed that all proceedings or actions related to the matter be stayed pending the court’s determination.
In addition to notifying the Minister of Justice and the affected legislators, the Marshal is required to ensure that a copy of the writ is served to them.
Heading for failure?
On Thursday, November 21, 2024, the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) released its fiscal year (FY) 2025 country scorecards, which revealed that Liberia met 11 out of 20 indicators. However, the country faltered in the area of Rule of Law, alongside eight other indicators.
Following this, many have argued that the report coincides with growing discontent among Liberians, who are expressing their frustrations over what they perceive as a blatant disregard for the constitution and the rule of law by certain lawmakers in the House of Representatives.
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