Normal legislative operations are being effectively stalled, casting a shadow over essential governance processes as the leadership crisis in the House of Representatives continues.
The ongoing turmoil has escalated tensions within government ranks, with Vice President Jeremiah Koung allegedly backing efforts to unseat House Speaker Fondati Koffa, driven by personal ambitions and aspirations for greater political power.
Reports indicate that Vice President Koung is at the forefront of a faction spending nearly $2 million in a bid to destabilize Koffa’s leadership.
This so-called “House Cabal,” which comprises influential lawmakers and senators entrenched in the national budgeting process, stands to lose substantial financial benefits if Koffa’s proposed reforms are implemented.
About 42 lawmakers have deliberately abstained from attending legislative sessions, obstructing the passage of several critical bills and policies designed to enhance basic social services in the country of 5.5 million people.
Due to the lack of quorum, the House is unable to conduct any business, likewise the Senate since one House cannot operate in the absence of the Other, leaving essential legislative matters, including the submission of the 2025 national budget hanging in the balance.
The 2025 spending bill – the national budget could face delayed since the House is unable to meet. The budget is of particular importance to President Joseph Boakai who is keen on aggressive resource mobilization to fund his ambitious Agriculture ,Roads and Energy and Sanitation (AREST) agenda.
Boakai and his cabinet are proposing series of tax reforms. With urgent financial constraints looming, the administration plans to introduce multiple new taxes, enhance existing tax rates, and expand the tax base.
The goal is to finance escalating government activities, which are increasingly vital in an economy grappling with stagnant foreign direct investment and a struggling private sector.
According to a recent report from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) concerning Liberia’s request for a 40-month extended credit facility, this revenue mobilization initiative is set to commence in 2025. The IMF outlined ambitious projections for the government, which aims to generate an additional 2.3% of GDP in annual revenue by 2027 through new tax policies and improved revenue administration.
The House’s Crisis poses serious risk to these programs. The Koung-backed faction continues to undermine the government despite a Supreme Court order mandating that they cease such conduct until a hearing into the matter.
Speaker Koffa, determined to instill a culture of transparency and accountability, has proposed meaningful reforms aimed at auditing the House—a public institution that has not been scrutinized since the return of democratic governance in 2006.
Such measures, while critical for national integrity, pose a direct challenge to the financial stronghold of the cabal members who have profited significantly from unchecked power and influence within the budgeting process.
The stakes are high for Vice President Koung, who has political aspirations for the presidency in 2029. Any potential exposure of impropriety could jeopardize not only his political ambitions but also the substantial wealth he and his allies have amassed over the past decade.
