Liberia: Speaker Koon Orders Police to Forcefully Remove Representative Yekeh Kolubah Car Amidst Legislative Power Struggle

Author: Berenice Mulubah

On February 18, 2025, a dramatic scene unfolded at the Capitol Building in Monrovia, Liberia. Speaker of the House Richard Nagbe Koon, who was controversially declared Speaker by the Majority Bloc, ordered the Liberia National Police to forcibly break into Representative Yekeh Kolubah's car. The car was parked in the designated parking space for the Speaker, a spot traditionally used by Speaker J. Fonati Koffa. Representative Kolubah, a staunch supporter of Speaker Koffa, had deliberately parked his vehicle in the Speaker's reserved spot as an act of defiance against Koon's claim to the speakership. In response, Koon ordered the police to remove the vehicle. The officers used a drill to forcefully unlock the car, drawing sharp criticism from lawmakers opposed to Koon's leadership. The Rule of Law Caucus, composed of lawmakers who support Speaker Koffa, condemned Koon's decision to use force, describing it as a dangerous precedent for handling disputes in the House of Representatives. The ongoing power struggle within the House has deepened divisions, with the Majority Bloc continuing to assert control over legislative proceedings, while the Minority Bloc maintains that Koon's leadership is illegitimate. The Liberia National Police has since recalled two officers involved in the incident and placed them under investigation. The incident has sparked widespread criticism, with opponents of Koon questioning the legality of his directive and the role of law enforcement in the ongoing political standoff. This incident highlights the intense political rivalry and the challenges facing the Liberian legislature as it navigates leadership disputes and strives to uphold the rule of law.