Vice President Jeremiah K. Koung is advocating for “tribal balance” in Nimba County’s Senate representation, insisting that the county’s two seats should be split between its two largest ethnic groups: one Gio senator and one Mano senator.
But the proposal has sparked backlash, with critics pointing out that Koung himself served as senator alongside the late Prince Johnson, both of them Gio, with no push for “balance” at the time. Now, as the race heats up for the vacant senatorial seat, many are questioning: Why the sudden shift?
For years, Nimba’s Senate seats were held by two Gio tribesmen, Koung and Johnson, without public debate over tribal equity. Now, as Mano leaders push for their own representation, Koung argues that having two Mano senators would “disadvantage” the Gio, calling it “tribalism.”
“Calling for tribal balance is not tribalism,” Koung recently wrote. “If someone insists on two Mano senators to the disadvantage of Gio only because they are Mano, that is tribalism.”
Yet, skeptics fire back: Was it not tribalism when two Gios held power? And what about smaller tribes like the Mandingo, Krahn, and Gbi, who remain sidelined in the discussion?
While Koung frames his stance as “fairness,” critics accuse him of selective morality. If Nimba’s leadership must reflect tribal demographics, why only Gio and Mano? Smaller groups argue they, too, deserve a seat at the table.
“If we’re talking real equity, let’s not pretend this is just about Gio and Mano,” said a Mandingo youth leader in Sanniquellie. “We’ve been here for generations, why are we erased from the conversation?”
Nimba’s politics have long been shaped by tribal dynamics, with the Gio and Mano communities dominating governance. But as Liberia moves toward a new political era, the demand for true inclusivity grows louder.
Is VP Koung’s “tribal balance” a step toward unity, or a calculated move to maintain influence? As the debate rages, one thing is clear: Nimba’s voters will have the final say.
What do YOU think? Should senate seats be divided by tribe? Comment below!
