Monrovia, Liberia – The ECOWAS Parliament has formally rejected a request from Liberia’s House of Representatives to recall three members of its delegation, citing the legal framework governing the tenure of community parliamentarians.
In a letter dated March 7, 2025, and addressed to Chief Clerk Mildred N. Sayon, the Acting Secretary-General of the ECOWAS Parliament, K. Bertin Somé, clarified that the mandates of Liberian representatives Samuel R. Enders Sr., Moima Briggs-Mensah, and Taa Z. Wongbe remain valid until the end of their four-year term.
Citing Article 18 of the Supplementary Act on the Enhancement of the Powers of ECOWAS Parliament, Somé outlined that members cannot be removed or replaced before their term expires unless they fail to be re-elected at the national level, resign, die, are deemed mentally or physically incapable, or are dismissed for misconduct under the Parliament’s rules.
According to the letter, none of these conditions apply to the three Liberian lawmakers, making their recall legally impossible under ECOWAS regulations. The rejection effectively blocks any attempt by the Liberian legislature to replace the delegates before their term concludes.
This decision comes amid rising political tensions in Liberia, where recent efforts to reshuffle regional representatives have sparked debate over the government’s motives. Critics argue that attempts to recall these delegates may reflect internal power struggles within the House of Representatives, while others view the move as a test of Liberia’s adherence to international protocols.
The ECOWAS Parliament emphasized that the three Liberian representatives will continue to serve until their mandate expires, reaffirming its commitment to upholding regional legal frameworks.
The House of Representatives has yet to respond to the ECOWAS Parliament’s decision.
