MONROVIA — Amid rising political tensions, the national chairman of the All Liberian Coalition Party, Ansu Dulleh, has delivered a strong warning, reminding political actors that his party is no stranger to turmoil and will not be easily intimidated.
Addressing partisans and political allies Sunday at a Unity Party alliance meeting in Monrovia, Dulleh made it clear that while ALCOP supports peace, it possesses the capacity to respond to chaos if provoked.
“You see, the All Liberian Coalition Party has a history. And I want you to be cognizant of that. Every political institution has a history, and we have a history. So you cannot make us scared with chaos. We are also masters of chaos. And so, we do not want to go that route anymore. Give us time and peace as we move forward with good governance,” Dulleh declared.
The ALCOP chairman’s remarks are widely viewed as a direct response to warnings recently made by former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor, who cautioned that Liberia risks slipping into instability if the rule of law and constitutional order are undermined.
Speaking recently at an opposition event, Howard-Taylor said, “We can agree to follow a path of chaos or maintain calm, but the choice is in the hands of the president.”
In contrast, President Joseph Boakai has maintained that his administration will work with the necessary quorum of lawmakers to ensure the effective functioning of government. The president’s statement followed the Supreme Court’s ruling in an amended bill of information filed by House Speaker Cllr. Fonati Koffa, which declared that Representative Richard Nagbe Koon’s claim to the speakership lacked merit and was unconstitutional.
The Supreme Court’s decision reaffirmed the legal framework guiding the Legislature and provided the executive branch with a firm basis to continue its operations despite political turbulence.
ALCOP’s History of Conflict
Dulleh’s invocation of ALCOP’s “history” carries significant weight in Liberian political memory. The party was founded by the late warlord Alhaji G.V. Kromah, a wartime figure whose involvement in Liberia’s civil conflict remains deeply controversial.
Kromah, a Mandingo Muslim from Tusu Town in Quardu Gboni District, Lofa County, was a former journalist who rose to prominence during the administrations of Presidents William R. Tolbert Jr. and Samuel K. Doe. Following the outbreak of civil war, Kromah co-founded the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO), which later fractured into factions.
As leader of ULIMO-K, Kromah commanded forces that battled Charles Taylor’s NPFL during the brutal years of Liberia’s first civil war. His forces were both credited with resisting Taylor’s advance and accused of serious human rights abuses.
After the 1996 peace accords, Kromah contested the 1997 presidential elections under the ALCOP banner, placing third with 4.02% of the national vote. Although ALCOP has since operated as a civilian political party, its foundation in Liberia’s conflict history remains an undeniable aspect of its identity.
Thus, when Chairman Dulleh publicly asserts that ALCOP are “masters of chaos,” it rekindles historical memories and suggests that the party retains both the will and the means to defend itself if challenged.
Growing Political Sensitivities
Dulleh’s strong words come at a time when Liberia’s political atmosphere is highly sensitive. Disputes over legislative leadership, slow economic recovery, and public concerns over governance have made the environment increasingly volatile.
While the ruling Unity Party emphasizes stability and the strengthening of democratic institutions, the opposition maintains that vigilance is necessary to prevent constitutional violations and political overreach.
Chairman Dulleh’s remarks have added a sharp edge to the national discourse, signaling that, while the preference may be for peace, the capacity for confrontation remains close beneath the surface.
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