Published: April 28, 2025
Monrovia— The Unity Party Alliance (UP-Alliance), comprising 20 political parties, has reaffirmed its unwavering support for President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr., while raising serious concerns over recent actions by the Supreme Court of Liberia and the behavior of some elements of the opposition.
In a joint statement read Sunday by UP-Alliance Chairperson Gabriel Salee, the alliance emphasized its commitment to constitutional governance, peace and democracy amid a growing legislative impasse that has disrupted the functioning of the House of Representatives since late 2024.
Backing President Boakai’s Leadership
The UP-Alliance commended President Boakai’s leadership during the turbulent period, highlighting his dedication to constitutional order, particularly his respect for Article 33 of the Liberian Constitution, which defines a simple majority as sufficient for legislative quorum.
“The president has consistently demonstrated leadership grounded in dialogue, inclusiveness, and a vision for sustainable development,” the alliance noted, urging all Liberians and institutions to rally behind the administration to preserve peace and stability.
Condemning Opposition’s Threats of Chaos
The alliance strongly condemned threats of violence and destabilization voiced by opposition figures during a gathering Friday, where some reportedly threatened to make the country ungovernable if the president failed to enforce the Supreme Court’s recent ruling.
Labeling the threats as “morally bankrupt” and “an assault on Liberia’s stability,” the UP-Alliance vowed that any attempts to disrupt the nation’s peace would be firmly resisted by the Liberian people.
Warning Against Judicial Overreach
While expressing respect for the judiciary, the UP-Alliance voiced alarm over what it described as judicial overreach by the Supreme Court in its April 23 ruling.
The alliance argued that the Court’s ruling on a Bill of Information filed by former Speaker J. Fonati Koffa — rooted in extrajudicial statements rather than a formal, enforceable decision — could further destabilize governance if improperly enforced.
“How does the chief justice expect the government to enforce an opinion when the court itself previously affirmed it could not do what the Legislature refuses to do for itself?” the statement queried.
The alliance also criticized perceived inconsistencies by the court, citing its endorsement of the Legislature’s budget process under the now-contested leadership, which included significant financial benefits for the judiciary.
“Additionally, it is important to highlight that during the national budget hearings, the Supreme Court endorsed the participation of the judiciary’s financial team to advocate for a budgetary increase under the leadership of a speaker whom it and its allies now deem illegitimate. Following the passage of the national budget, the chief justice authorized an increase in her salary, restoring it to pre-harmonization levels, and approved retroactive payments of $60,000 for the chief justice and $40,000 for each member of the Supreme Court bench,” Salee added.
Potential Fallout for Governance
The UP-Alliance warned that the court’s ruling, if retroactively applied, could invalidate major legislative actions such as the:
- 2025 national budget,
- Salary increases for civil servants and health workers,
- Insurance coverage for police officers,
- World Bank and other international loan agreements critical to national development.
Such outcomes, the alliance cautioned, would risk paralyzing the state and undermining Liberia’s hard-won progress.
Commitment to Constitutional Order
The alliance called on the Supreme Court to respect the doctrine of separation of powers and refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of the Legislature, urging the court to apply the political question doctrine appropriately as it considers a pending petition for re-argument.
“We reaffirm that until the Legislature fully resolves its internal disputes, we will continue to recognize the duly constituted majority ensuring the smooth functioning of government,” the alliance emphasized.
The UP-Alliance called on all Liberians to “Think Liberia, Love Liberia, and Build Liberia,” pledging to stand firm against chaos and defend the nation’s democracy under President Boakai’s leadership.
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