MONROVIA – The Unity Party (UP)-led Alliance has thrown its full support behind President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s decision to maintain stable governance in Liberia, emphasizing that the Executive must not enforce any court ruling that could undermine constitutional governance or push the nation into paralysis.
“Under Article 33 of the Constitution, President Boakai must continue governance with a majority quorum in the House of Representatives,” the Alliance stated. “The Executive cannot enforce any ruling that undermines constitutional governance or plunges the state into paralysis. A cardinal function of the Executive is to ensure the peace, security, and stability of the state and its people.”
The statement comes amid heightened political tensions following threats from some opposition figures who warned of making the country ungovernable if the Supreme Court’s recent ruling is not enforced to their satisfaction. The UP-Alliance sharply condemned what it called “politically motivated intimidation and divisive tactics” aimed at destabilizing Liberia’s hard-won peace and democratic progress.
Referring to a gathering of opposition leaders on Friday, the Alliance described their rhetoric as “irresponsible and inflammatory,” warning that threats to “shut down” Liberia through violence and unrest are “morally bankrupt and unacceptable.” The group added: “Such threats will be met with firm resistance by all peace-loving Liberians.”
While reaffirming their respect for the judiciary, the UP-Alliance raised serious concerns over the Supreme Court’s April 23rd ruling. According to the Alliance, the Court’s action on a Bill of Information filed by Representative Jonathan Fonati Koffa—based on extrajudicial statements rather than formal enforceable orders—blurred the constitutional lines between the judiciary and legislature.
“How does the Chief Justice expect the government to enforce such an opinion when the very Court in its first ruling on this matter accentuated that the Supreme Court cannot do what the Legislature refused to do for itself?” the statement questioned.
Adding to its criticism, the UP-Alliance pointed out inconsistencies in the Supreme Court’s conduct, noting that during recent national budget hearings, the Court actively participated under the leadership of a House Speaker it now seeks to delegitimize.
“It is important to highlight that the Supreme Court endorsed the participation of its financial team to advocate for a budgetary increase, under the leadership of a Speaker whom it and its allies now deem illegitimate,” the Alliance said. They further noted that the Judiciary secured a budget increase, authorized retroactive salary payments of US$60,000 for the Chief Justice and US$40,000 for each Associate Justice, and procured a new fleet of vehicles under the current fiscal budget.
The Alliance warned that the Supreme Court’s ruling risks invalidating key legislative actions critical to the nation’s functioning, including the 2025 National Budget, civil servant and health worker salary increases, health and life insurance for police officers, and ratified international agreements such as World Bank loans.
“Such retroactive invalidations would destabilize the state’s functioning, contrary to the Constitution’s commitment to a functional Legislature and Executive,” the Alliance cautioned.
In closing, the UP-Alliance reiterated that any attempt to plunge the state into chaos for political gains would be resisted.
“The Liberian people are committed to protecting our democratic gains, and no amount of political threats or judicial overreach will derail our progress,” the statement concluded.
