President Joseph Boakai has delivered a significant blow to the faction within the House of Representatives that has revolted against Speaker Fonati Koffa.
In a decisive show of constitutional adherence, the President Tuesday swiftly transmitted a critical bill to the Speaker aimed at modernizing Liberia’s zoning laws, which have remained unchanged since 1958.
This legislative move comes on the heels of a boycott led by a rebellious faction within the House intending to set up a parallel leadership structure.
President Boakai’s recognition of the Speaker’s authority effectively stripped the dissenting members of their political legitimacy, signaling his disapproval of their actions, which appear aimed at disrupting his nearly year-old administration.
The proposed zoning legislation, backed by a substantial US$40 million investment from the World Bank, focuses on developing climate-resilient infrastructure to mitigate flooding, enhance urban management, and improve access to essential services in Monrovia.
Currently, the rebel faction has seen its ranks dwindle from 47 to just 35 members, failing to meet the constitutional two-thirds majority required to unseat an elected Speaker.
Vice President Jeremiah Koung, who has been constitutionally positioned in the legislature as President of the Senate, has reportedly aligned himself with the insurrectionists following a previous failed attempt to unseat another influential leader in the Senate.
The Vice President, along with his inner circle, feels overshadowed by Senate President Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, whose close relationship with the President has left Koung feeling marginalized.
His political ambitions, particularly concerning the 2029 presidential race, are seen as jeopardized by the ramifications of potentially being connected to legislative destabilization.
A powerful coalition of lawmakers, known informally as the “House Cabal,” is reportedly spending close to $2 million to remove Speaker Koffa.
This group, which includes several influential senators and the Vice President himself, has historically wielded significant control over the national budgeting process, raising alarms over Koffa’s anti-corruption agenda and its potential impact on their financial interests.
The cabal perceives these sweeping reforms and transparency efforts as a direct threat to their lucrative influence in appropriations. With a financial audit looming over the House, there are mounting fears that uncovering historical financial practices could unravel years of unaccountability, shaking the foundations of power held by longstanding political players.
