ECOWAS Mediators Emphasize Rule of Law -Warns Capitol Hill Power Bickerers to Heed Due Process

MONROVIA – There is no way anyone would circumvent it. The whole global community, from the east to the west, from democracies and authoritarianism, the refrain is resoundingly the same: “The rule of law” is best in resolving conflicts. That is also the perspective of ECOWAS mediation team that came into the country to broker the ongoing power feud between a group of lawmakers and House Speaker Fonati Koffa – a feud in which the lawmakers are seeking the overthrow of the speaker on account of its number without due process. “Might does not make right,” so the ECOWAS Parliamentary team appears to be saying rather euphemistically or diplomatically when they said in their inception report from the mission: “ECOWAS discourages a political culture that is not anchored in the rule of law.” Will they listen? The Analyst reports.    

The ECOWAS peace mission which arrived in the country November 11 appears to be on their way back but not without releasing their first report on their assessment of imbroglio between House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa and a group of his colleagues, aka “majority bloc” wanting his resignation.

The ECOWAS Parliamentary team, set up by the sitting Chairperson of ECOWAS, Ahmed Bola TINUBU of Nigeria, said although it successfully brought both parties to the negotiating table and after several rounds of in-depth discussions with stakeholders on the contending issues towards an amicable settlement, the parties were not able to arrive at a favourable conclusion within the timeframe of the mission.

While the mediation delegation said it remained fully seized of the issues at stake and continues to engage with the parties concerned to ensure that the desired outcome is achieved, it reiterates that ECOWAS discourages a political culture that is not anchored in the rule of law and therefore urged the parties, as custodians of the law, to adhere to due process.

The parliamentary delegation emphasized the need for all parties involved in the political impasse to conduct their search for a resolution within the legal framework enshrined in the 1986 Constitution of the Republic of Liberia as well as the Rules of Procedures of the House of Representatives,

“The members of the House of Representatives should consider the best interest of the people of Liberia who have entrusted them with the responsibility of law-making, oversight and representing the people’s wishes and aspirations in the Country’s decision-making process,” the mission said Saturday as they ended the tour of duty. “In this regard, the Members should work together to unify the country and keep it on the path of peace, development, and progress.”

“While efforts are being made by the ECOWAS Community and its key partners to end this impasse, the parliamentary delegation expressed its “solidarity with the good people of Liberia and admonishes them to remain patient and calm in the face of the challenges unfolding in the House of Representatives of Liberia.”

Though it could not broker a solution during its stay in the country, from the 11^th to the 16^th of November, the ECOWAS delegation said remained optimistic about the willingness of the feuding parties to reach solution to the impasse in the best interest of the Liberian people and the people of the West African Community.

Tracing the Mission

Concerned about the parliamentary impasse within the House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia, His Excellency Ahmed Bola TINUBU, siting Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government and President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, decided to deploy a mediation and diplomacy mission to Monrovia.

By virtue of the powers to mediate conferred on ECOWAS Parliament by the Supplementary Act relating to the Enhancement of its Powers and considering the parliamentary nature of the political impasse, His Excellency President TINUBU requested the Speaker of the ECOWAS parliament to lead a parliamentary mediation and diplomacy mission.

The Mission engaged with the relevant Authorities and Institutions of the Republic of Liberia to facilitate an amicable resolution between the parties concerned. The delegation led by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Hadja Memounatou lBRAHIMA, and composed of Billay G. TUNKARA, Nassirou BAKO-ARIFARI, Califa SEIDI

With the support of Her Excellency Ambassador Josephine NKRUMAH, Resident Representative of the President of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia, the parliamentary delegation adopted a work programme with President Joseph N. Boakai, Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Gyapay Yuoh, Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow NYANTI.

The Mission also met with President Pro-tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence, House Speaker J. Fonati KOFFA, the “Majority Bloc” of the Liberian House of Representatives and Liberian National Civil Society Council.

The parliamentary delegation reminded the various stakeholders they met with that Liberia, as one of the oldest parliamentary democracies in Africa, and in spite of the challenges of its contemporary history, has continued to demonstrate resilience and significant progress in consolidating the gains of democracy over the years, earning the respect of the Comity of Nations.

Furthermore, with the recent successful transfer of executive power as a result of the Presidential elections of November 2023, Liberia has once again demonstrated its political maturity and commitment to upholding the rule of law.

However, the parliamentary delegation expressed deep concerns over the prevailing situation within the Liberian House of Representatives. This situation has paralyzed the legislative branch of the Liberian government, hindered the functioning of the Government as a whole and caused genuine apprehension amongst the resilient people of Liberia.