The Liberian political landscape is embroiled in a deepening constitutional crisis following the Senate’s concurrence with a faction of the House of Representatives on the passage of the 2025 national budget. This action, which approved a budget of US$880.07 million, took place against a backdrop of ongoing disputes regarding the legitimacy of the House leadership and raises serious questions about the legality of the budget’s passage. The controversy stems from the recent removal of House Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa by a majority bloc within the House and the subsequent election of Representative Richard Nagbe Koon as his replacement. Speaker Koffa maintains his removal was illegal, further complicating the already tense political situation.
The Senate’s decision to concur with the House majority bloc, led by the newly installed Speaker Koon, occurred late Friday, December 20, 2024, following a motion by Senator Numene Bartekwa. Nineteen of the thirty senators voted in favor of the budget’s passage. This action, however, has been immediately challenged by the ousted Speaker Koffa, who has deemed the entire process “ultra vires,” meaning undertaken without legal authority. This declaration throws the validity of the budget into serious doubt, potentially jeopardizing crucial government operations and funding for the upcoming fiscal year.
Adding further complexity to the political turmoil is the ongoing dispute surrounding the legitimacy of Richard Koon’s speakership. With Speaker Koffa refusing to recognize his removal, the House of Representatives is effectively divided, with each faction claiming legitimacy. This division undermines the legislative process and creates uncertainty regarding which actions taken by the House are legally binding. The Senate’s concurrence with the Koon-led faction further exacerbates the situation, potentially entrenching the division and prolonging the constitutional crisis.
The political tensions and disputes surrounding the House speakership escalated dramatically in the days leading up to the budget vote. A violent protest erupted on Capitol Hill following Speaker Koffa’s removal, further highlighting the deep divisions within the legislature and the broader political landscape. Just a day after the protest, a fire ravaged the Joint Chamber of the Legislature, forcing the House majority bloc to convene a special emergency session at Monrovia City Hall to pass the budget. This unusual circumstance adds another layer of controversy to the budget’s passage, raising questions about the propriety and transparency of the process.
The Supreme Court’s involvement in the dispute has failed to resolve the impasse, further deepening the political uncertainty. While the Court’s intervention aimed to clarify the legal standing of the competing factions within the House, it has not yet provided a definitive resolution. This lack of clarity has allowed the political maneuvering to continue, with both Speaker Koffa and Representative Koon claiming the legitimate right to lead the House. The Senate’s decision to concur with the Koon-led faction, despite the ongoing legal challenge, further complicates the situation and suggests a disregard for the judicial process.
The controversial passage of the 2025 national budget underscores the fragility of Liberia’s political institutions and the urgent need for a resolution to the ongoing leadership dispute within the House of Representatives. The legality of the budget remains in question, potentially impacting government operations and essential services. The ongoing political turmoil threatens to undermine the stability and progress of the country and requires a swift and decisive response from all stakeholders to restore confidence in the legislative process and uphold the rule of law. The unresolved questions surrounding the speakership, the violent protests, the fire incident, and the Senate’s contentious concurrence paint a picture of a nation grappling with significant political challenges.
