Rivercess County — Acting President of the Rivercess Youth League (RYL), Karl Kollar, Jr., has rejected a directive from the Rivercess County Administration nullifying his leadership and ordering fresh elections for the youth organization.
The County Administration recently announced that the mandate of the current Youth League executives has expired, prompting a decision to invalidate the existing leadership and mandate the conduct of new elections to reconstitute the organization.
In a communication dated January 8, 2026, the Office of the County Superintendent instructed the County Coordinator of the Ministry of Youth and Sports, Christian T. Chea, to collaborate with the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) and the Mano River Union Youth Parliament to organize the electoral process.
The letter, signed by Rivercess County Superintendent, Hon. Byron W. Zahnwhea, stated that the elections must be conducted within a two-month period, from January 8 to March 8, 2026. It further directed the establishment of an interim leadership within two weeks to oversee the affairs of the Youth League during the transition.
According to the county administration, the interim body will manage the organization’s operations and ensure a smooth, transparent, and credible transition to a newly elected leadership. Officials emphasized that the administration will no longer conduct official business with the current leadership, citing concerns about legitimacy and accountability.
Copies of the directive were forwarded to the Federation of Liberian Youth, the Mano River Union Youth Parliament, and the media, a move the administration said underscores its commitment to inclusiveness and transparency in youth governance in Rivercess County.
However, Kollar has publicly rejected the superintendent’s decision, describing the planned elections as “their own election.” He argued that neither the Ministry of Youth and Sports nor the Office of the County Superintendent has the legal authority to determine the leadership of a civil society organization such as the Rivercess Youth League.
Kollar further stated that any action taken by Youth and Sports Coordinator Christian T. Chea would not be recognized by his administration, noting that Chea represents the government and therefore cannot interfere in the internal affairs of the Youth League.
He also dismissed comparisons between Youth League elections and traditional local governance processes, such as the selection of town chiefs, arguing that Youth League elections require adequate time and consultation. While denying claims that he has refused to conduct elections, Kollar said he had proposed holding the polls in March 2026.
The Youth League president maintained that he will not recognize any interim leadership or any executive elected through a process not sanctioned by his administration, insisting that his leadership remains legitimate.
