ECOWAS Parliament has decisively rejected Liberia's attempt to recall three of its representatives —Moima Briggs-Mensah, Taa Wongbe, and Samuel Enders. This unfolding drama, rooted in Liberia’s internal political fractures, has placed the country at odds with ECOWAS’s protocols. The growing tensions within Liberia's fractious legislature raise questions about the country's standing in the regional body.
Power Play in Monrovia
The drama unfolded when the Majority Bloc in Liberia's House of Representatives, led by Speaker Richard Koon, voted to withdraw Representatives Moima Briggs-Mensah, Taa Wongbe, and Samuel Enders from the ECOWAS Parliament2. The Bloc cited procedural violations and lack of political balance in their selection, alleging embattled Speaker Fonati Koffa had made the appointments unilaterally2.
This move is widely seen as part of a broader power struggle within Liberia's legislature, with the Majority Bloc seeking to consolidate its influence by reshaping the country's representation at the regional level. The Bloc's decision to elect new representatives on February 25, 2025, further escalated tensions, signaling a clear intent to sideline Koffa's allies6.
ECOWAS Stands Firm
However, the ECOWAS Parliament has stood its ground, invoking Rule 5 of its protocols, which stipulates that representatives cannot be recalled mid-term except under specific circumstances such as death, resignation, or incapacity6. This stance effectively nullifies the Majority Bloc's attempts to reshuffle Liberia's delegation.
Senator Edwin Snowe, Liberia's senior representative at the ECOWAS Parliament, has emerged as a vocal critic of the recall attempt. Snowe emphasized that "The ECOWAS Parliament is governed by its own rules, and not even the current ECOWAS Chairman, Nigerian President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has the authority to enforce such a recall"6. This statement stresses the limits of national authority in regional governance structures.
Regional Implications
The controversy has broader implications for ECOWAS's institutional integrity. Parliamentarians from other member states, including Hon. Abdul Kargbo of Sierra Leone and Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume of Nigeria, have rallied behind the current Liberian representatives, emphasizing the need to maintain ECOWAS's independence from member states' internal politics6.
This episode depicts the ongoing tension between national political imperatives and supranational governance frameworks in West Africa. For ECOWAS, it represents a test of its ability to maintain autonomy in the face of member states' domestic turbulence.
Outlook
As the situation unfolds, President Joseph Boakai faces a delicate balancing act. Snowe has urged Boakai to remain neutral, describing the recall as unconstitutional6. However, the president's handling of this crisis could have significant implications for Liberia's credibility within ECOWAS and its broader foreign policy objectives.
The ECOWAS Parliament's firm stance sends a clear message about the inviolability of its protocols. However, it remains to be seen how this will impact Liberia's influence within the regional body and whether it will lead to a recalibration of the country's approach to regional politics.
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Reference
https://liberianinvestigator.com/featured/koons-house-to-recall-ecowas-parliament-reps/
https://www.modernghana.com/news/578814/africa-intelligence-gives-a-new-visual-identity-to-its-confi.htmlLIBERIA: ECOWAS Parliament Rebuffs Monrovia's Recall AttemptLIBERIA: ECOWAS Parliament Rebuffs Monrovia's Recall Attempt
https://liberianinvestigator.com/news/ecowas-parliament-to-reject-liberias-recall-of-lawmakers/LIBERIA: ECOWAS Parliament Rebuffs Monrovia's Recall Attempt
https://ncirc.bja.ojp.gov/sites/g/files/xyckuh326/files/media/document/analysts_style_manual.pdf/LIBERIA: ECOWAS Parliament Rebuffs Monrovia's Recall Attempt
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02684527.2025.2456351?src=
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