The ECOWAS delegation is set to return to Liberia on March 23, 2025, to address the leadership crisis in the House of Representatives. Led by Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, the delegation aims to mediate following an unsuccessful 2024 attempt. Key meetings with political leaders and a Supreme Court hearing on March 26, 2025, offer hopes for resolution amidst ongoing legislative paralysis.
A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is set to arrive in Liberia on Sunday, March 23, 2025, to renew mediation efforts concerning the ongoing leadership crisis in the House of Representatives. This marks ECOWAS’s second attempt, following a previous mediation endeavor in 2024 that failed to bring resolution.
The delegation will be led by Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, a former UN Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs and Nigeria’s former Foreign Minister. The team includes notable figures such as Ambassador Abdel-Fatau Musah, ECOWAS Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace, and Security, and Mr. Ebenezer Asiedu, Head of Democracy and Good Governance at the ECOWAS Commission, among others.
This visit is particularly timely as the Supreme Court of Liberia prepares to hear a bill of information filed by Speaker J. Fonati Koffa on March 26, 2025. The hearing will provide both parties an opportunity to present their arguments, which could significantly influence the direction of the political crisis.
During their visit, the ECOWAS delegation will conduct meetings with various political leaders and government officials, including Foreign Minister Sarah Beysolow Nyanti and President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, as well as representatives from the judiciary and civil society. Key engagements will also include discussions with former Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Weah.
The ongoing intervention from ECOWAS occurs amidst prolonged legislative inactivity stemming from the leadership dispute. While past mediation attempts have not succeeded, the combination of judicial proceedings and renewed ECOWAS efforts offers a glimmer of hope for resolving the deadlock.
In conclusion, the arrival of the ECOWAS delegation marks a significant attempt to mediate the ongoing leadership crisis within Liberia’s House of Representatives. Despite previous unsuccessful interventions, the combination of judicial hearings and high-level diplomatic engagement by ECOWAS provides potential pathways toward resolving this political deadlock, highlighting the importance of collaboration among political leaders, civil society, and international stakeholders.
Original Source: frontpageafricaonline.com
