-Cabinet Reshuffle Sidelines Geraldine and Magdalene
By Jerromie S. Walters
MONROVIA, Liberia — President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. has relieved two female ministers from his Cabinet in a reshuffle announced Friday, September 11, 2026, sharply reversing a recent milestone in women’s representation that his administration had celebrated only weeks earlier.
The relief of Madam Geraldine J. George as Minister of National Defense and Madam Magdalene E. Dagoseh as Minister of Commerce and Industry reduces female representation in Liberia’s 19 core ministerial positions from nine to seven, undoing the historic 42.1 percent share achieved after the September 2 reshuffle.
The development has triggered immediate reactions from women’s rights advocates, who warn that the gains celebrated just days ago now appear fragile and at risk of being erased.
In the new appointments, Cllr. Oswald Natu Tweh will serve as Acting Minister of National Defense, while Mr. Stephen Marka Yekeson Jr. takes over as Acting Minister of Commerce and Industry.
Both outgoing ministers, George and Dagoseh, are to be reassigned. The Executive Mansion has not yet announced the specific positions to which the two women will be moved, leaving uncertainty about whether their new roles will carry the same weight and influence as their previous Cabinet portfolios.
President Boakai also named Honorable Christopher Ben Bailey as Acting Superintendent of Grand Gedeh County, Mr. Mike Khailelu B. Jabateh as Acting Deputy Director General for Publicity at the National Food Assistance Agency, and Mr. Daniel Frank Gould II as a Member of the Board of Commissioners of the Public Procurement and Concessions Commission, subject to confirmation by the Liberian Senate.
In a separate development, the President suspended Mr. Frederick S. Cooper, Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, for 60 days without pay with immediate effect. The suspension, according to the Executive Mansion, is for acts incompatible with his status as a public official.
In his communication to Cooper, President Boakai stressed the critical importance of discipline, integrity and responsible conduct in public service, cautioning all appointed officials to conduct themselves in a manner that reflects the standards and values of his administration.
He reiterated that public office is a position of trust and that officials will be held accountable for conduct that undermines the integrity of government or brings public service into disrepute. The suspension of a senior official at the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection comes at a particularly sensitive time, as the ministry is central to the administration’s stated commitments to gender equality and social protection.
From Increase to Decrease
The September 11 changes follow a September 2 reshuffle in which Boakai elevated women to nine of the 19 core Cabinet posts, up from seven in early 2025, when women held approximately 39 percent of the positions — a figure described at the time as a historic high for female participation in Liberia’s highest decision-making body.
The 19 core Cabinet positions are Foreign Affairs; Finance and Development Planning; State for Presidential Affairs; Justice and Attorney-General; National Defense; Local Government; Minister of State Without Portfolio; Agriculture; Public Works; Health and Social Welfare; Commerce and Industry; Information; Mines and Energy; Labor; Transport; Gender, Children and Social Protection; Education; Posts and Telecommunications; and Youth and Sports.
With the latest changes, seven women remain in the Cabinet, a reduction that analysts say weakens the administration’s recent narrative of inclusive governance. The seven remaining women include Sara Beysolow Nyanti, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Dean of the Cabinet, a former UN Assistant Secretary-General with nearly three decades of global governance and peacebuilding experience who led Liberia’s successful campaign for a non-permanent UN Security Council seat for the 2026–2027 term.
Also among them is Dr. Louise Mapleh Kpoto, Minister of Health, a physician-obstetrician holding a PhD in Tropical Medicine and a Master of Public Health in Epidemiology who was inducted as a Fellow of the West African College of Surgeons in February 2025.
Dr. Jarso Maley Jallah, Minister of Education and a UNESCO Executive Board member, has implemented free public primary education from Kindergarten through Grade 6 beginning with the 2026–2027 academic year.
Gbeme Horace-Kollie, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, has prioritized decentralizing operations to county levels and expediting cases of sexual and gender-based violence through technology and specialized legal mechanisms.
Atty. Cornelia Wonkerleh Kruah, Minister of Youth and Sports, at 35 became the youngest person to hold the position, bringing experience from the Ministry of State and Ministry of Education.
Hadja Mamaka Bility, Minister of State Without Portfolio, oversees the President’s Delivery Unit, chairs the Liberia Corporation for Strategic Investment and is spearheading efforts to establish a National Peace, Reconciliation and Memorial Museum.
Cllr. Betty Muslyn Lamin-Blamo, Minister-designate of Justice, is a Columbia University LL.M. graduate and former Solicitor General awaiting Senate confirmation to succeed Cllr. N. Oswald Tweh.
Lamin-Blamo’s appointment comes as the Ministry of Justice confronts heightened public scrutiny over high-profile criminal investigations, anti-corruption cases and narcotics-related matters.
Feminist Coalition Demands Answers
Following the latest appointments, the Feminist Coalition called on President Boakai to clarify the status of the two reassigned female ministers, warning that their removal from strategic Cabinet posts without announced replacements risks reversing what the administration had recently celebrated as historic progress on women’s inclusion in governance.
In a statement issued Friday, the coalition “respectfully call[ed] on President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. to provide clarity regarding the reassignment of Hon. Geraldine J. George and Hon. Magdalene E. Dagoseh and to ensure that their new assignments are announced without unnecessary delay and are commensurate with their qualifications, experience and demonstrated leadership.”
The coalition said its frustration was sharpened by the timing. Only days earlier, it had joined Liberian women and rights advocates in commending Boakai for elevating women to key leadership positions, calling the increased Cabinet representation a demonstration of political will toward inclusive governance.
“It is therefore disappointing that, at a time when women and women’s rights organizations are celebrating these gains, two women are being moved from strategic portfolios without clarity regarding their next assignments,” the statement read.
“A change in assignment must not become a reduction in influence. Reassigning qualified women from strategic portfolios without immediately identifying equally meaningful positions risks undermining the very progress the Administration has demonstrated. Women should not have to celebrate gaining a seat at the table today, only to question whether that seat will still exist tomorrow.”
The coalition singled out George’s removal from the Ministry of National Defense as particularly significant, tying women’s leadership in the security sector to Liberia’s obligations under United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 and related resolutions, as well as the country’s National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
“At a time when Liberia is working to strengthen women’s participation in the security sector and deepen implementation of its Women, Peace and Security commitments, women must remain visible and influential at the highest levels of security leadership,” the coalition said.
It similarly described women’s leadership at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry as critical to inclusive economic governance, noting that Liberian women are heavily engaged in petty trade, markets, agriculture, entrepreneurship and cross-border commerce while facing persistent barriers to finance, formalization, market access and business growth.
The coalition argued that progress must be measured not only by the number of women appointed, but by whether women are retained in positions of authority and given meaningful opportunities to shape decisions on peace, security, governance and economic development.
“For the Feminist Coalition, the question is no longer simply where these women are going next,” the statement said. “The more important question is whether women are being moved out of strategic decision-making spaces at a time when their representation in those spaces is being celebrated as progress.”
The coalition urged the administration to sustain and deepen gains in women’s representation by appointing more qualified women at national and local levels and across all sectors — warning against concentrating women’s leadership in ministries and agencies traditionally associated with women and social issues.
“Qualified women must have opportunities to lead across the full spectrum of national development, including security, justice, economic governance, finance, infrastructure, natural resources, agriculture, technology, education, health, diplomacy, public administration and other strategic sectors,” the statement read.
It also called for greater opportunities for women at county, district and community levels in local government and decentralized governance structures. The coalition stressed that its position “is not about personalities or political affiliation,” but about “protecting and expanding women’s right to participate fully and meaningfully in the governance, peace, security and development of Liberia.”
It reaffirmed its commitment to constructive engagement with the government while holding firmly to its responsibility to speak out where gains appear threatened. “As feminists and women’s rights advocates, where progress is made, we will commend it. Where those gains appear threatened, we have an equal responsibility to speak out,” the statement said.
The coalition closed by expressing hope that George and Dagoseh “continue to contribute meaningfully to national leadership in positions that reflect their qualifications, experience and capacity to serve Liberia.” The Feminist Coalition comprises medica Liberia, the Liberia Feminist Forum, the Women NGOs Secretariat of Liberia, Sisters 4 Sisters Liberia and the Radical Young Women Movement Liberia.
Meanwhile, in remarks at a Presidential Media Dinner on September 12, 2026, Madam Lisa Tenneh Diasay, President of the Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL), addressed the President directly on the implications of the reshuffle.
“We know both are to be reassigned, and no one here disputes your authority to organize your own government,” Diasay said. “But we count the Cabinet table, Mr. President, because inclusion is not a sentiment. It is a count.” “When a woman leaves that table, a girl in Grand Bassa loses a picture of what she is permitted to become,” she said.
Diasay urged the President to place the two women where “their competence still shapes policy” and to ensure future shortlists “reach your desk with women already on it rather than added to it afterward.”
Outgoing Ministers Express Gratitude
As the reshuffle continues to generate debate, the two outgoing ministers have issued separate statements expressing gratitude to President Boakai for the opportunity to serve.
Brigadier General Geraldine Janet George (Rtd.), former Minister of National Defense, in a note of appreciation, said she wished to express her profound gratitude to President Boakai for the confidence he reposed in her and the opportunity to serve the Republic of Liberia as Minister of National Defense.
“Serving in his Administration has been a great honor and a humbling responsibility,” George said. “I am grateful for the trust, guidance, and support extended to me during my tenure, and for the opportunity to contribute, in my own way, to the peace, security, and development of our beloved country.” She said that as she transitions from public office, she remains deeply committed to Liberia and will continue to support the President’s vision and the national interest in whatever capacity she may be called upon to serve.
George extended her sincere appreciation to her colleagues in Government, the leadership and personnel of the Ministry of National Defense, the Armed Forces of Liberia, security partners, and the Liberian people for their support and cooperation throughout her tenure. “May God continue to guide His Excellency the President and bless the Republic of Liberia,” she said. “Thank you, Mr. President, for the opportunity to serve.”
Madam Magdalene Ellen Dagoseh, the replaced Minister of Commerce and Industry, also expressed profound gratitude and sincere appreciation to President Boakai for the confidence he reposed in her and for affording her the opportunity to serve the Liberian people.
“Serving under his leadership has been a great honor and a valuable opportunity to contribute to the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, particularly in advancing commerce, supporting Liberian businesses, promoting entrepreneurship, and creating opportunities for our people,” Dagoseh said.
She said she remains deeply grateful for the trust, guidance, and support received during her tenure and will continue to cherish the privilege of serving Liberia and contributing, in every capacity possible, to the progress and prosperity of the nation. “May God continue to grant His Excellency wisdom, strength, and courage as he leads our country toward a more prosperous and inclusive future,” she said.
Liberia has made international commitments to advancing women’s participation in governance and security, including through UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, which calls for increased representation of women at all decision-making levels.
The country has also developed a National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, aimed at strengthening women’s participation in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and post-conflict reconstruction.
Women’s rights advocates argue that these commitments must be reflected not only in policy documents but in the actual composition of the government and its leadership structures. They contend that reducing women’s representation in strategic ministries such as Defense and Commerce sends a contradictory message about the administration’s priorities.
The Feminist Coalition and other civil society organizations are calling on the administration to be transparent about the reassignments and to ensure that the two women are placed in positions of comparable influence and responsibility. They argue that vague promises of reassignment are insufficient and that concrete, timely action is needed to demonstrate that the administration values the contributions of women leaders.
The coalition has also called for broader efforts to increase women’s representation at all levels of government, including in local government and decentralized governance structures. While President Boakai retains the authority to organize his government, the decision to relieve two female ministers from strategic Cabinet posts — just days after celebrating a historic high in women’s representation — has raised questions about the durability of those gains.
