-As Kolleh, Others Want Liberian Current ECOWAS Delegates Recalled
By Jerromie S. Walters
Contrary to widespread belief that internal conflicts in the House of Representatives had been resolved, Tuesday’s plenary session revealed a resurgence of hostilities, this time with far-reaching implications for Liberia’s relationship with ECOWAS. Lawmakers clashed aggressively over whether the regional body should recognize a new set of Liberian delegates elected during the House’s recent leadership impasse—a move ECOWAS has already rejected.
The tension erupted during discussions on a communication from Senator Edwin M. Snowe, Liberia’s Head of ECOWAS Delegation, confirming the venue for an upcoming ECOWAS Parliament meeting. Bong County District #6 Representative Moima Briggs-Mensah, one of the current ECOWAS delegates, was cut off as lawmakers loyal to the so-called “Majority Bloc” demanded that ECOWAS first recognize their replacements.
Margibi County District #2 Representative Ivar K. Jones and Bong County District #2 Representative James Kolleh were among a few others who insisted that ECOWAS must accept the new delegates, citing the recent House resolution retroactively legalizing all actions taken during the impasse. He further insisted that the legislature’s authority supersedes ECOWAS protocols in determining Liberia’s representation.
Representative Jones framed the issue as a matter of legislative sovereignty: “Mr. Presiding, I have been here for almost three years. From the day I came here, I was told that plenary is the highest decision-making body and once plenary takes a decision, it is only plenary that can reverse that decision. Mr. Presiding, my fellow gentleman from Bong County District #2 raised a key point that this body through a decision recommended some of our colleagues to ECOWAS.”
He questioned ECOWAS’s refusal to honor the House’s earlier recall request, framing it as a slight against Liberia’s legislative authority: “Honorable presiding, did ECOWAS honor our communication? Did they? No! Yes, we are part of ECOWAS. Today ECOWAS is writing us. Is it a crime for a member of this legislature to raise an issue regarding the way ECOWAS treated this body? In my mind, no. But this is the biggest political theatre and it behooves us to push things in the interest of our country.”
Jones acknowledged Liberia’s historical ties to ECOWAS but called for direct talks to resolve the impasse: “Mr. Presiding, the issue of ECOWAS, it is true. We are a founding member of ECOWAS. For the factECOWAS has chosen Liberja to be one of the areas to delocalize her activities, we welcome it. But in the same vein, the leadership of ECOWAS and the leadership of the House of Representatives must meet to table some issues that unfounded in the last so that we can be on path for the decentralization in question.”
For Bong County District #2 Representative James Kolleh, he argued that the House’s recent resolution retroactively legalizing all actions taken during the leadership crisis—including the election of new delegates—should compel ECOWAS to comply. Plenary is the highest decision-making body. And if Plenary is the highest decision-making body, Mr. Speaker, please don’t allow your gavel to dethrone the authority of plenary. Your gavel should ensure that the plenary remains the highest decision-making body.
He reminded colleagues that despite the Supreme Court ruling previous House actions as illegal, a subsequent resolution had effectively nullified that decision: What am I trying to put forth here? I’m trying to convince my colleagues that we took a decision to recall members at ECOWAS and reelect new officials or delegation to ECOWAS and when the [Supreme] Court rendered their opinion that our actions were illegal, we came back to this same plenary. We passed a resolution and that resolution mandated this plenary and the Liberian government ensuring that everything that was done which the Supreme Court said was illegal, was legal. So if colleagues who doubted it and who claimed the legitimacy of that resolution are signatories to that resolution. So I think Mr. Speaker, we need to be serious here.”
Kolleh concluded with a direct urge to House Speaker Richard Koon: “The current delegation to ECOWAS, they are not representing us. Having said that Mr. Speaker, I will want to conclude by saying to you I think it is expedient enough that your leadership take seize of this matter and be able to work with the leadership of the ECOWAS Parliament in ensuring that the delegates that were duly elected by this House of Representatives form the full reflection of our Parliament thereby representing us.”
House’s Resolution and ECOWAS Rejection
The resolution in question, passed last Tuesday, seeks to legitimize all decisions made by the breakaway faction during the leadership crisis—including the contentious 2025 National Budget—effectively nullifying a Supreme Court ruling that had declared those actions unconstitutional. Montserrado County District 16 Representative Dixon Seboe, who previously supported Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa but later switched allegiance, defended the resolution as necessary for “national stability.” However, critics argue that the House is overstepping its authority by attempting to override judicial decisions through legislative fiat.
The push to replace ECOWAS delegates is not new. In March, ECOWAS Parliament formally rejected a request from the House’s “Majority Bloc” to recall three sitting Liberian representatives—Samuel Enders, Moima Briggs-Mensah, and Taa Wongbe. The regional body cited its legal protocols, which only permit replacements under strict conditions such as death, resignation, or misconduct—none of which apply in this case.
The letter stated. “The Honorable Members Samuel R. Enders, Sr., Moima Briggs-Mensah, and Taa Z. Wongbe do not fall under any of the aforementioned circumstances,” the letter read. “Therefore, their replacement cannot be effected.” Acting ECOWAS Secretary-General at the time K. Bertin Somé emphasized that Liberia, like all member states, must respect the tenure of its delegates once sworn in. The rejection underscored ECOWAS’s commitment to institutional stability, leaving the House’s latest demands on shaky ground.
New Delegates Elected Amidst Controversy
The rejection came after the House proceeded in February to elect new delegates: Briggs-Mensah (retained), Augustine Chiewolo (Unity Party), and Samson Wiah (Coalition for Democratic Change). The move was immediately contested, with some lawmakers arguing that the previous delegates were protected under ECOWAS Rule 5, which mandates a fixed four-year term unless exceptional circumstances apply. Former Speaker Koffa had initially submitted the names of the current delegates in line with ECOWAS procedures. However, the “Majority Bloc” accused him of unilateral decision-making, insisting on a fresh election—a process now mired in legal and diplomatic uncertainty.
Following the heated exchanges, Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon deferred the matter to the House’s leadership for resolution. However, given that Kolleh and Jones—the most vocal proponents of replacing the ECOWAS delegates—are key members of that leadership, prospects for an impartial decision appear slim.
