-Sen. Snowe Tells ECOWAS Parliament
By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia – Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe has disclosed to the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament that lingering tensions persist along Liberia’s border with Guinea, even as diplomatic efforts continue under the Mano River Union.
Snowe made the disclosure last week during plenary sessions in Abuja, responding to concerns raised by fellow parliament members regarding multiple governance and security matters unfolding in Liberia. Snowe is among four Liberian lawmakers representing the country at the regional parliament. “There is still a little problem at the border. At the level of the Mano River Union, the presidents have been meeting and trying to resolve it,” Snowe told the body, addressing the escalating territorial dispute between Liberia and Guinea. “
The senator’s remarks come more than a month
after communities along the Makona River in northern Liberia experienced fear and uncertainty. The territorial dispute ignited on March 17, 2026, when Guinean soldiers crossed the waterway—long regarded as the natural boundary—and seized equipment from a Liberian sand-mining operation. Troops raised a Guinean flag on Liberian soil, asserting territorial claims. Although residents confronted the intruders and re-hoisted the Liberian flag, the situation turned violent days later when Guinean forces returned and opened fire, wounding a Liberian man.
Despite a high-level emergency summit convened in Conakry involving the presidents of Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone at the genesis of the tension,
Guinean troops remain present in the contested area. The trilateral meeting, held under Mano River Union auspices, produced a joint communiqué outlining a 12-point roadmap for peace, including commitments to restore the status quo ante and enhance security cooperation through joint patrols.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. struck an optimistic tone following the summit, stating, “We all realized that we are the same people. We have been working together for years and we have nothing to gain from war.” However, the continued presence of Guinean soldiers on disputed ground has left many Liberians questioning the diplomatic breakthrough’s effectiveness.
Addressing the ECOWAS Parliament, Snowe also condemned the recent expulsion of Montserrado County District Number 10 Representative Yekeh Y. Kolubah, calling the decision a major threat to Liberia’s democracy. “The House of Representatives, it is true that they expelled one of their members for stating that the land was owned by Guinea.”
The House voted on April 17, 2026, to expel Kolubah following an investigative report by the Committee on Rules, Order, and Administration detailing allegations of gross misconduct and violations of his oath of office. The complaint, filed by Montserrado County District Number 3 Representative Sumo K. Mulbah and others, specifically cited Kolubah’s comments on the border dispute in which he stated, “The land belongs to Guinea.”
Snowe emphasized the structural differences between Liberia’s two legislative chambers, noting that the Senate functions as a deliberative body where members debate freely without fear of reprisal.
“In Liberia, in our political dispensation, we have two chambers: the House of Senate, where we consider as the House of elders, where we can freely debate issues and we don’t expel people for talking freely, and the House of Representatives,” Snowe explained.
He added that three lawmakers who signed the expulsion resolution were present in the ECOWAS chamber, suggesting they might answer for their actions. “A lot of Liberians have condemned it, including the former President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has condemned it. And some of us have so condemned it. For someone to express themselves and be expelled by the legislature for freedom of expression, we see it as a major threat to our democracy.”
Inspector General of the Liberia National Police Gregory O. W. Coleman had also raised concerns about national security, public safety, and national stability in connection with Kolubah’s statements. Despite the expulsion, Guinean soldiers remain on the Liberian side of the border. The border controversy also hit the Senate floor weeks ago after Nimba County Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr. called for a formal investigation into remarks made by his colleague, Gbarpolu County Senator Amara Konneh, during recent budget debates.
Twayen alleges that Konneh disclosed privileged national security information on the Senate floor—a charge Konneh vehemently denies. The controversy stems from comments Konneh made just before the passage of the 2026 supplementary budget on April 23, 2026. During Senate debate, Konneh revealed the total number of personnel in the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL)—approximately 2,000—and highlighted the disparity in equipment between Liberia and Guinea.
He noted that while Liberia operates with minimal equipment, Guinea possesses anti-tank weapons, naval capabilities, and aircraft. Konneh made the remarks while advocating for increased budgetary allocations to the Ministry of National Defense. In a statement released Friday following criticism from Twayen and others, Konneh directly addressed what he described as two specific claims against him.
“Regarding the allegation that I ‘praised the Guinea Army’: My public statement on March 19, 2026, praised President Joseph Boakai’s diplomatic leadership in addressing the border crisis and called for the revival of Mano River Union coordination mechanisms,” Konneh said. “At no point did I praise, reference, or endorse any foreign military force. My mention of the Guinean military’s size and strength during yesterday’s debate, which is public information, was to emphasize the need to pay attention to our military funding.”
Addressing the classified information allegation, Konneh stated: “I have not attended any meeting where I was given official classified details about our military strength. I did not reveal any content from President Boakai’s meeting with the Senate. Every piece of information I referenced on the Senate floor yesterday is unclassified and publicly accessible.”
Senator Twayen expressed deep concern over Konneh’s comments and suggested the matter rise to the level of a formal investigation. According to Twayen, the information Konneh disclosed is privileged and not easily accessible to the general public, raising potential national security concerns. However, the constitution protects lawmakers from being held accountable for statements they make while in chambers.
Notably, open-source research confirms that the Armed Forces of Liberia is a small, professional volunteer force of roughly 2,000 to 2,100 active personnel. Rebuilt after the civil war with U.S. assistance, the AFL lacks heavy equipment, including tanks, combat aircraft, and significant naval assets, making it one of the smallest militaries in West Africa.
Reports also indicate a broader pattern of gradual territorial expansion. At the Sefudu Border in Quardu Gbondi District, Guinean security personnel ordered their Liberian counterparts to move the Liberian flag approximately half a kilometer from the swampy borderline in 2025—the first known instance of attempted encroachment.
The Makona River, also known as the Moa, is an international waterway shared by Liberia, Guinea, and Sierra Leone. Guinean authorities cite the 1907 Franco-Liberian Convention and a 1911 refinement, which they interpret as placing the border along the Liberian bank rather than the middle. They also invoke a regional principle suggesting that a border river belongs to the country where it originates—in this case, Guinea. Conversely, Liberian local leaders and residents maintain that the river has historically served as a recognized shared boundary, with Liberian territory extending to at least the middle of the river.
Among other issues, Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe further addressed public concerns regarding President Boakai’s nomination of Mr. Jonathan K. Weedor to serve as Chairman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), following the resignation of Madam Davidetta Browne-Lansanah in late March 2026. “The opposition community has been very concerned about that because the person who was appointed as Chair of the Elections Commission was an active member of the ruling party,” he said.
“Matter of fact, he was one of those who supervised their tallying operations during the elections and challenged the Election Commission, so there have been concerns,” Snowe added. Responding to a parliament member’s question about the legality of the appointment, Snowe clarified: “It’s not against the law, but it’s perception. If someone is actively involved with one party and the next minute you are the referee for the same process, then there is concern.”
