Former presidential candidate Alexander B. Cummings has sharply criticized President Joseph Boakai’s handling of Liberia’s legislative standoff, accusing him of indecisive leadership that has worsened the political crisis and damaged the country’s credibility.
In a strongly worded statement, the Alternative National Congress (ANC) political leader insisted that Boakai’s failure to firmly uphold a Supreme Court ruling on the Speaker’s removal has created confusion, weakened governance, and made Liberia appear “disorganized on the world stage.”
Cummings argued that Boakai’s reluctance to take a clear stance has emboldened an opposition bloc in the House of Representatives to pursue an unconstitutional removal of Speaker Bhofal Chambers, without securing the required 49 votes.
“The law is clear, 37 to elect, 49 to remove. But instead of enforcing this, the President has allowed a flawed process to continue, making him look indecisive and weak,” Cummings said. “His indecision is fueling chaos when Liberia needs decisive leadership.”
The ANC leader warned that Boakai’s failure to broker a political solution, despite the Speaker’s openness to dialogue, has left the country in limbo. While legal and political issues are being conflated, Cummings stressed that the President must first publicly commit to obeying the Supreme Court’s ruling before any negotiations proceed.
“The President had a duty to stand firmly on the side of the Constitution. Instead, his ambiguity has made things worse,” he said. “It’s not too late to correct this, but every day of delay hurts Liberia’s stability.”
Cummings expressed concern that the prolonged crisis, compounded by Boakai’s wavering leadership, is tarnishing Liberia’s image abroad. “The world is watching, and what they see is a government that can’t resolve its own disputes,” he said.
He urged behind-the-scenes talks to break the deadlock but maintained that any solution must respect the rule of law. “Liberia’s future cannot be held hostage by political games. President Boakai must lead, or step aside for those who will.”
As pressure mounts, observers warn that continued indecision from the Executive could lead to deeper institutional instability. For now, all eyes remain on Boakai, will he act, or let Liberia’s crisis spiral further?
