Monrovia – A standoff occurred at the Capitol Building on Monday, March 24, when members of the Majority Bloc in the House of Representatives snubbed an ECOWAS Mediation Team delegation over a recognition dispute regarding Majority Bloc Speaker, Richard Koon.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The ECOWAS delegation, which arrived in Liberia on Sunday, was in the country to continue mediation efforts aimed at resolving the ongoing leadership dispute within the House.
This marks the second attempt by ECOWAS to intervene in the political crisis, following an unsuccessful mediation in 2024.
The delegation includes prominent figures such as Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, former UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs; Amb. Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security; and other key officials such as Mr. Ebenezer Asiedu, Head of Democracy and Good Governance at the ECOWAS Commission, among others.
The tensions came to a head when the delegation arrived at the Capitol Building and addressed Rep. Richard Koon as “Honorable Koon,” rather than “Speaker Koon,” a title that the Majority Bloc insists is crucial for proper protocol.
This oversight was seen by the Majority Bloc as a direct affront to Koon’s office, leading them to demand that the mediation meeting be postponed until proper protocols were observed, including advance notification to Koon’s office.
“We cannot accept this,” said one member of the Majority Bloc. “No prior notification was made to the Speaker’s office. It’s a disregard for the authority of the House, and we refuse to meet under these conditions. We insist the meeting be postponed until proper procedures are followed, including notifying Koon’s office in advance.”
The situation also brings to the fore the recent rejection by ECOWAS Parliament of Liberia’s request to replace two members of the House.
ECOWAS maintained that the replacements were not warranted, as the members were still within their mandate and had not breached any necessary conditions.
“The Honorable Members Samuel R. Enders, Sr., Moima Briggs-Mensah, and Taa Z. Wongbe do not fall under any of the aforementioned circumstances, therefore, their replacement cannot be affected; consequently, the Honorable Members of the ECOWAS Parliament will continue to serve their mandate until its expiration, in line with the international commitments of the Republic of Liberia,” ECOWAS Parliament declared in response to the request.
FrontPageAfrica had earlier reported that the Majority Bloc intended to snub the ECOWAS delegation, with one member of the bloc saying, “We are not going to listen to them. In fact, we have begun making friends in the region. We have been traveling in recent days to make new friends. So, we are not children for ECOWAS parliament to decide for us.”
The delegation’s visit comes ahead of crucial hearings by the Supreme Court of Liberia, scheduled for March 26, regarding a Bill of Information filed by embattled Speaker Koffa.
In light of the tensions, the House’s Communication Department later issued a statement responding to rumors circulating that the Majority Bloc had snubbed the ECOWAS delegation. The communication clarified that while the Majority Bloc expressed their displeasure, the issue was under internal review, and no formal decision had been made regarding the delegation’s visit.
The communication added, “There are ongoing discussions among our members, and we are committed to ensuring that all protocols and proper procedures are followed in any engagement with ECOWAS or any external delegation.”
Meanwhile, Speaker Koffa, alongside the Rule of Law Caucus, met with the ECOWAS delegation later on Monday evening in a bid to find common ground. The meeting, which took place behind closed doors, aimed to address the concerns raised by the Majority Bloc and to explore potential solutions to the House’s internal issues.
Following the meeting, Speaker Koffa expressed optimism about the mediation efforts, stressing that ECOWAS’ involvement underscores the importance of regional stability and the need for external support to help Liberia navigate its political struggles.
He also emphasized that the intervention is critical in restoring unity and reinforcing Liberia’s democratic institutions.
“We welcome the involvement of ECOWAS in resolving the internal conflict,” Koffa said. “The current situation within the House has raised concerns about governance and the rule of law. ECOWAS’ support will help guide us toward a constructive solution that will ensure stability and unity in Liberia.”
With the Majority Bloc planning to reject external interference in the Legislature’s affairs, political observers believe the road to political reconciliation within the House of Representatives remains uncertain.
