Africa-Press – Liberia. The Liberian Senate through its head of Delegation to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament has notified and provided update to the regional body regarding the status of the lower house impasse, while informing the body that the impasse has been peacefully and lawfully resolved.
Bomi County Senator and Head of Liberia Delegation to ECOWAS Parliament, Sen. Edwin Snowe, has officially notified the regional body of the settlement of the prolonged Speakership dispute at the House of Representatives.
Sen. Snowe in communication dated May 15, 2025, to ECOWAS Parliamentary Speaker Memounatou Ibrahima, confirmed to the regional body that the impasse has been duly resolved in keeping with the country’s democratic principles and legislative procedures.
” I have the honor to present my compliments and extend warmest greetings on behalf of the Liberian Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament. I write to formally inform Your Excellency, and Distinguished Members of the Sixth Legislature of the ECOWAS Parliament that the internal parliamentary impasse at the Honorable House of Representatives of Liberia 55TH National Legislature has been peacefully and lawfully resolved in keeping with the country’s democratic principles and legislative procedures,” Sen. Snowe said in his communication.
On November 11, 2024, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, announced a five-member delegation from the ECOWAS Parliament travel to Monrovia to engage in mediation efforts.
The delegation, which included two Deputy Speakers, and two Representatives aid was to address the underlying causes of the political stalemate while fostering dialogue among key stakeholders.
In two separate communications to then Speaker Fonati Koffa and Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, Speaker Ibrahima said in light of the fragile political landscape, exacerbated by recent coups in neighbouring countries, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of Nigeria, the current Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, had directed the ECOWAS Parliament to facilitate an immediate parliamentary resolution to the crisis.
Disappointingly, the first intervention by the ECOWAS mediation team was unsuccessful as both parties failed to come to an understanding.
ECOWAS again on March 27, 2025, in an effort to bring the situation to an end called for peace and respect for the rule of law regarding the legislative impasse.
The ECOWAS delegation led by Professor Ibrahim Gambari, former Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs, arrived in Liberia to address the political deadlock in the legislature.
The mission included key figures such as Moudjib Djinadou, Director of Political Affairs at UNOWAS, and H.E. Joao Ribeiro Butiam Co, Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau to Nigeria and ECOWAS. They were supported by a technical team led by Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia, experts from ECOWAS’ departments on democracy, good governance, and electoral assistance.
However, like the previous mission, this called was ignored, leaving the impasse at the house on a very storming ground.
However, in keeping with principles and moral, Senator Snowe accordingly, informed the ECOWAS that the impasse was resolved following the interventions of the Supreme Court of Liberia, and subsequent resignation of former Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa.
He further indicated that the House of Representatives convened in regular session and duly conducted an election, resulting in the peaceful ascension of Rep. Richard Nagbe Koon as Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia.
“This development, Your Excellency, does not only restore full constitutional leadership to both Chambers of the Liberian Legislature, but also paves the way for strengthened parliamentary function and representation at the national and regional levels with respect to the framework of the ECOWAS Parliament,” Senator Snowe asserted.
He disclosed that the Liberian Legislature remains profoundly grateful to the solidarity support from the ECOWAS Parliament during this period and herewith reaffirm Liberia’s continued commitment to the principles of democratic governance and regional cooperation.
“Thanks, and please accept, Your Excellency, the assurances of my highest esteem and consideration. Respectfully yours, Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, Jr. Head of Liberia’s Delegation ECOWAS Parliament” he concluded.
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