Liberia - May 2025

On 13 May, Liberia’s House of Representatives elected a new Speaker, breaking a six-month deadlock between two factions over the leadership of the lower chamber. During this period, the factions have held separate and uncoordinated sittings under rival speakers, thereby disrupting parliamentary processes and raising political tensions within and outside the House. The split was precipitated by a failed attempt from the larger grouping (the Majority Bloc) to impeach the then Speaker and opposition representative Jonathan Fonati Koffa over alleged corruption and poor governance, prompting it to break away and unilaterally elect its own speaker, Richard Nagbe Koon (a representative of the ruling Unity Party). Despite an April Supreme Court ruling reaffirming him as the legitimate Speaker, Koffa resigned on 12 May, citing declining parliamentary support and the government’s insistence on working with the Majority Bloc. Koon was elected as Speaker by a reunified House the following day.       

Sources: Front Page Africa, Liberian Observer, Dubawa, Jeune Afrique, International IDEA