By Jerromie S. Walters
Monrovia, Liberia – Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe, Jr. has vehemently denied accusations by the Liberian government that he orchestrated a campaign to destabilize the administration, calling the claims a “malicious and baseless political witch hunt” designed to silence dissent.
The controversy erupted after Liberia’s Ministry of Information, Culture, and Tourism issued a statement alleging that Snowe—a prominent opposition figure and member of the ECOWAS Parliament—made “inflammatory remarks” aimed at undermining national stability. The government’s communiqué, released while Snowe was on an official ECOWAS assignment in Sweden, did not specify the alleged statements but implied they amounted to treasonous conduct.
In a press statement issued Sunday, Snowe condemned the allegations as a “reckless defamation” and an attack on democratic freedoms. “This is not just an assault on my reputation but a direct threat to Liberia’s constitutional order,” he declared. “To accuse an elected official of treason without evidence is a tyrannical tactic to intimidate the opposition.”
The senator, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, framed the government’s move as part of a broader crackdown on critics. He warned that such actions could erode trust in democratic institutions and deter citizens from holding leaders accountable.
ECOWAS Mission Aborted, Calls for International Scrutiny
Snowe announced he would cut short his diplomatic mission in Sweden and return to Liberia to address the allegations head-on. He has formally petitioned the Liberian Senate for an independent investigation and urged international bodies—including ECOWAS, the African Union, and the United Nations—to monitor what he described as “a pattern of political persecution.” “This is no longer about me—it’s about whether Liberia remains a nation where dissent is criminalized,” Snowe stated.
Earlier, the Bomi County Senator called the claims “false, unfounded, and deeply troubling.” The ECOWAS Parliament member initially issued his rebuttal hours after the Ministry of Information published a statement alleging he vowed to use his regional influence to undermine Liberia’s government.
In his brief statement via his official Facebook page, Senator Snowe stated he had only just become aware of the government’s allegations, which were posted on the Ministry of Information’s official Facebook page. He expressed shock at the accusations, which he described as “inflammatory and irresponsible remarks falsely attributed” to him.
“While I take steps to verify the authenticity of this publication,” Snowe said, “I categorically reject and condemn any such false and unfounded allegations.” He warned that if confirmed as authentic, he would demand an independent and transparent investigation into what he called a “malicious” attempt to tarnish his reputation.
The controversy comes following months of political tensions in the Liberian House of Representatives.
Snowe, who has been vocal in his opposition to government policies, but somehow smooth with the Executive now finds himself at the center of a high-stakes dispute that could test Liberia’s democratic institutions. Senator Snowe recently visited President Boakai. As of press time, the Liberian government has not publicly substantiated its claims against Snowe.
