By Grace Q. Bryant
A delegation from the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Parliament is set to arrive in Monrovia today, November 11 up to 15 to mediate the political impasse at the House of Representatives.
The mission, led by the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament and supported by two deputy speakers and two representatives, reflects the regional bloc’s commitment to fostering peace and stability amid mounting political tensions within Liberia’s legislative body.
The ECOWAS delegation’s visit comes at a crucial time for Liberia, which has made notable strides in strengthening its democracy since the November 2023 political elections.
However, the current legislative standoff has raised concerns about the stability of Liberia’s democratic progress.
Leaders in ECOWAS are particularly worried, given recent regional turbulence that has included coups in four member states and threats of withdrawal by three of those affected nations.
As the current ECOWAS Chairperson, Nigeria’s President Bola Ahmed Tinubu directed the ECOWAS Parliament to intervene swiftly in Liberia’s parliamentary crisis.
Under the Supplementary Act of 2016, ECOWAS Parliament is authorized to “contribute to the promotion of peace, security and stability in the West African region.”
The mediation team’s mission will be threefold: to understand the underlying causes of the crisis, to hold discussions with key Liberian stakeholders for a peaceful resolution, and to formulate recommendations for restoring stability in Liberia’s political sphere.
In an official statement, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament said, “Liberia has achieved impressive benchmarks in peace and democratic consolidation.”
However, this current impasse threatens those gains and the broader efforts to maintain security across a fragile region.”
He added that the mediation team hopes to work closely with the Speaker of Liberia’s House of Representatives and other principal figures involved in the crisis to develop a mutually acceptable solution.
The delegation’s goals include gathering insights into the root causes of the impasse and assessing its potential effects on national stability.
After these consultations, the delegation will submit its recommendations to the ECOWAS Authority, the Liberian government, and other stakeholders in hopes of preserving political cohesion and preventing further instability.
Liberian leaders have voiced optimism that ECOWAS’s mediation can help restore calm to the House of Representatives.
The mission is seen as part of a broader ECOWAS effort to support democracy and prevent unrest in West Africa, where political volatility has posed persistent challenges.
