President Joseph Boakai is reportedly working behind the scenes to resolve the ongoing leadership crisis in the House of Representatives. With both sides of the dispute refusing to back down, the matter is now heading to the Supreme Court on March 14.
At the heart of the issue is a disagreement over who should rightfully lead the House. Speaker Richard Koon, backed by the Majority Bloc, claims authority, while Speaker Fonati Koffa, supported by the Minority Bloc, insists that new elections must be held. Koffa’s camp argues that Koon was not elected by all members and, therefore, lacks legitimacy.
The dispute traces back to a Supreme Court ruling from December 6, 2024, which set certain legal guidelines for the House’s leadership. Koffa’s legal team claims that Koon and his deputy, Thomas Fallah, ignored this ruling and continued operating in violation of the law. Adding to the tension, Liberia’s Justice Minister and Attorney General, Cllr. Oswald Tweh, issued a legal opinion on December 10, 2024, siding with the Majority Bloc. Koffa’s team believes this opinion misinterpreted the court’s decision, further complicating the crisis.
As the fight drags on, Koffa has turned to the Supreme Court once again, asking it to declare all actions taken by Koon’s bloc as illegal. If the court rules in Koffa’s favor, it could shake up the current House leadership and force new elections.
In the midst of all this, President Boakai has reportedly held separate meetings with both Koon and Koffa in an attempt to mediate. However, with the case now set for a Supreme Court hearing, the political standoff remains unresolved.
