Liberia News: ECOWAS Again

Liberia-A high-level delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament is set to visit Liberia from November 11-15, 2024.

This visit of the delegation is intended to address the ongoing political impasse in the Liberian House of Representatives, which has raised concerns about the nation’s political stability. The move comes amid growing regional anxiety about the potential destabilizing effects of the deadlock in Liberia’s legislature.

The role of ECOWAS in restoration of peace in Liberia is not strange. During the country’s years of civil war, it was the regional bloc that played a significant role in its restoration. The first peacekeepers came from Ghana and Nigeria, while America, Liberia’s traditional friend was mainly concerned about evacuating its citizens.

The mission, led by Rt. Hon. Hadja Memounatou Ibrahima, Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, aims to facilitate dialogue and work toward a peaceful resolution to the leadership crisis that has plagued the House of Representatives for nearly a month now. The delegation will include two deputy speakers and two floor representatives from the ECOWAS Parliament.

So, ECOWAS seeing that she does not want to see Liberia return to its dark days, has decided to embark on a peace mission.

In a formal letter sent to Liberia Speaker of the House of Representatives, J. Fonati Koffa, Ibrahima emphasized that the political standoff threatens not only Liberia’s own stability but could also undermine the broader West African region’s efforts to maintain peace and democracy.

“Liberia has made significant strides in consolidating peace, security, and democratic processes, particularly with the smooth transfer of power in November 2023. However, this current political deadlock poses a risk to those gains,” Ibrahima wrote.

The ECOWAS Parliament’s mission follows directives issued by Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, in his capacity as Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State, urging an immediate resolution to the crisis. The visit according to their written communication is part of a broader regional effort to prevent the political instability from escalating further, especially at a time when several West African countries are still grappling with the fallout from recent coups.

The delegation will work closely with key stakeholders in Liberia, including political leaders, lawmakers, and civil society organizations, to understand the root causes of the impasse and its broader implications on the country’s stability. The delegation’s mandate is to propose concrete solutions and make recommendations to the ECOWAS Authority, Liberian authorities, and other stakeholders, with the goal of restoring cohesion and ensuring that Liberia’s political process remains intact.

The timing of the ECOWAS mission is critical, as the country approaches key legislative and political milestones in the coming months.

In a statement expressing confidence in the mission’s success, Speaker Ibrahima underscored the importance of collective efforts in resolving such political disputes, stating, “It is through collaboration and constructive dialogue that we can ensure Liberia remains on the path of peace and democracy.”

As part of the mission, the delegation will meet with Liberia’s President George Weah, members of the legislature, and other political figures to assess the situation firsthand and propose solutions aimed at restoring political harmony in the House of Representatives. The ECOWAS team has expressed its hope that all parties involved will engage in frank discussions to resolve the issue and bring stability back to Liberia’s political landscape.

The visit comes at a time when tensions have risen within the Liberian parliament over leadership disputes, prompting fears that the gridlock could spill over into broader social and political unrest. The ECOWAS delegation’s intervention is viewed as a critical step in preventing further escalation.