Monrovia – Nearly two decades after the end of a brutal civil war, Liberia has made measurable gains—peaceful elections, successive democratic transitions, and the rebuilding of state institutions. But beneath this progress, troubling patterns are re-emerging, raising concerns that the country may be drifting toward a familiar and dangerous past.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh, gerald.koinyeneh@frontpageafricaonline.com, and Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com
At the center of these concerns is the growing dominance of incumbency power—an influence that, if left unchecked, risks eroding democratic norms and weakening institutional independence.
A Quiet Drift: When Power Outpaces Institutions
On the surface, Liberia’s democracy appears stable. But a closer look suggests that political influence is increasingly shaping decisions within key institutions.
In established democracies, incumbency is balanced by strong checks and independent bodies. In Liberia, however, critics argue that incumbency has become a decisive force—one that can influence legislative outcomes, shape judicial processes, and determine political survival.
The concern is not merely about power—but about its unchecked expansion.
The Kolubah Case: Discipline or Political Silencing?
The controversial removal of former Montserrado County District #10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah has become a defining example.
While the House of Representatives justified its decision as lawful, the process drew sharp criticism from legal experts and some lawmakers who argued that due process was ignored. Kolubah’s legal team walked out of proceedings, citing procedural violations, and a writ of prohibition from the Supreme Court was allegedly overlooked.
The circumstances surrounding his removal—combined with his reputation as a vocal critic of the establishment—have fueled perceptions that dissent, rather than misconduct, was being punished.
Lawmakers including Musa Hassan Bility warned that the move could set a dangerous precedent.
“This should not be mistaken for justice… What we have seen appears to be retribution for dissent,” Bility said.
‘President Gets What He Wants’
Rep. Taa Zogbe Kartoe Wongbe of Nimba County District #9, publicly distanced himself from the controversial removal of Yekeh Kolubah, while delivering a scathing critique of governance and legislative independence in Liberia.
In a strongly worded statement issued following Kolubah’s expulsion, Rep. Wongbe made it clear he did not support the action.
“Let’s be clear—I did not sign any resolution to remove my colleague,” Wongbe declared.
While acknowledging that he disagreed with Kolubah’s remarks, which he described as “reckless and irresponsible,” Wongbe questioned both the legality and integrity of the process that led to his removal.
“Do I believe the process and outcome were right, lawful, and in the spirit of good governance? No,” he stated.
Wongbe’s statement went beyond the immediate controversy, offering a broader and more troubling assessment of Liberia’s political system.
After nearly two and a half years in the Legislature, he said he has reached a stark conclusion: “The President gets what the President wants.”
Though he did not present evidence, the assertion points to growing perceptions among some lawmakers that the Executive—led by Joseph Nyuma Boakai—exerts significant influence over legislative outcomes. Wongbe outlined a pattern he believes defines governance in Liberia today:
“If the President wants a lawmaker removed, it happens. If the President wants a Speaker removed, it happens. If the President wants institutions reprimanded, it is done.Whatever the President wants, the President gets,” he said.
Rubber Stamp Legislature
In one of the most striking parts of his statement, Wongbe raised fundamental questions about the relevance of the Legislature itself.
“What is the role of the Legislature if it is reduced to a rubber stamp?” he asked. “Existing only to legitimize the will of the President?”
He went further, suggesting that the institution may have lost its purpose.
“Perhaps we should even look into dismantling the Legislature. We have become useless,” he said.
Observers say these remarks are likely to intensify debate over separation of powers and the independence of Liberia’s democratic institutions.
Echoes of the Past: The Ja’neh Precedent
Observers say the expulsion of Yekeh Kolubah mirrors the impeachment of former Associate Justice Kabineh Ja’neh during the administration of George Weah.
In August 2018, the House of Representatives impeached Justice Ja’neh on four counts, including alleged abuse of judicial discretion and economic sabotage.
Central to the charges was the “Road Fund” case, in which Ja’neh was accused of blocking the government from enforcing a US$0.25 levy on petroleum products. He also faced allegations of improperly claiming ownership of property belonging to Annie Constance—an accusation his legal team maintained had already been settled through the courts as a civil matter.
Ja’neh’s removal in 2018 was widely criticized as politically motivated. The process was presided over by Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor, Sr. and was widely criticized as politically motivated and unconstitutional. Similar to the controversy surrounding the expulsion of Yekeh Kolubah, several legal experts—including the late Charles Walker Brumskine—condemned the impeachment and described it as unconstitutional.
The Executive was also accused of orchestrating the removal of Kabineh Ja’neh, while some Liberian politicians were later sanctioned by the United States Government for their alleged involvement in bribing fellow lawmakers to support the impeachment.
In 2020, the ECOWAS Court of Justice ruled the impeachment unlawful, ordering compensation and citing violations of his rights. The case raised fundamental questions about judicial independence—questions that are resurfacing today.
When courts are perceived as vulnerable to political pressure, one of democracy’s most critical safeguards is weakened.
Power Struggles in the Legislature
The leadership crisis involving former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa and a self-styled “Majority Bloc” further underscores the recurring pattern of political contestation within the Legislature.
In 2024, attempts by the bloc to remove Koffa—amid allegations of executive influence—highlighted what critics describe as a growing convergence between legislative and executive power. The standoff persisted until the Supreme Court of Liberia declared the actions of the Majority Bloc ultra vires and ordered a return to the status quo.
Such tensions are not unprecedented. Similar dynamics emerged during the removal of former Speaker Edwin Melvin Snowe—Liberia’s first post-war Speaker—under the administration of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Snowe and his supporters at the time alleged that his ouster was orchestrated by the Executive.
Across successive administrations, the pattern appears consistent: incumbency power shaping institutional outcomes within the Legislature.
A Structural Problem, Not a Partisan One
From Snowe to Ja’neh, and now Koffa and Kolubah and, the trend cuts across political lines. This suggests the issue is not tied to any single government—but is embedded within Liberia’s political structure.
Institutions meant to act as neutral arbiters are increasingly seen as extensions of political authority. Over time, this perception erodes public trust and weakens the foundations of democratic governance.
The Risk: Democratic Erosion from Within
Liberia is not facing an immediate collapse. Instead, analysts warn of something more subtle—a gradual weakening of democratic substance while its outward forms remain intact.
Elections may continue. Institutions may function, but if decisions are shaped more by political influence than by law, the system risks becoming hollow.
For a country with a history of institutional breakdown, this trajectory is particularly dangerous.
A Pyrrhic Victory?
Liberia’s post-war recovery has often been hailed as a success story. But there are growing fears that this progress may be fragile.
For Africa’s oldest republic, echoes of a somewhat controversial and turbulent past suggest signs of a Pyrrhic victory, a success won at such a devastating cost in spite of strong gains made since the end of the war.
The term originates after King Pyrrhus of Epirus, whose army suffered irreplaceable casualties while defeating the Romans at the Battle of Asculum in 279 BC.
Liberia may have survived the worst but many historians and political analysts fear, those meaningful gains are being hampered by a hollow victory —a tactical win that decisions like the Kolubah and J’aneh misfortunes are now pointing to strategic failures for a post-war nation on the mends.
