Koffa extends olive branch to Koon and Fallah.

Embattled House Speaker Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa has extended arms of reconciliation to both “Regime Speaker” Richard Koon and Deputy House Speaker Thomas Fallah following the Supreme Court’s verdict.

By: Kruah Thompson

Capitol Hill, April 23, 2025: Shortly after the Supreme Court confirmed him as the rightful Speaker of the 55th House of Representatives, Cllr. J. Fonati Koffa held a prompt press briefing, calling for peace and unity.

Koffa made specific mention of Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, Majority bloc leader Richard Koon, and other lawmakers who had earlier sought his removal.

He stated that while the move is aimed at calming tensions in the House, he is willing to reconcile.

“To our colleagues on the other side, we acknowledge your legitimate grievances and call on you to join us in ending the stalemate at Capitol Hill,” he said.

Tension in the 55th House of Representatives began when a group of lawmakers, including Deputy Speaker Fallah and Majority bloc leader Koon, challenged the legitimacy of Koffa’s speakership.

The matter escalated into a legal battle when a self-proclaimed Majority Bloc controversially elected Richard Koon as Speaker, despite failing to secure the constitutionally required two-thirds majority (49 votes) needed to remove a sitting Speaker.

Koffa and members of the minority bloc filed a petition for a declaratory judgment against Koon’s “speakership” before the Civil Law Court on January 14, 2025.

The case eventually reached the Supreme Court on December 6, 2025, when Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Youh, delivering the Court’s opinion at the time interpreted Articles 33 and 47 of the 1986 Constitution of Liberia.

Articles 33 and 47 of the 1986 Constitution says the Senate shall elect once every six years a President Pro Tempore who shall preside in the absence of the President of the Senate, and such other officers as shall ensure the proper functioning of the Senate. The President Pro Tempore and other officers so elected may be removed from office for cause by resolution of a two-thirds majority of the members of the Senate, which they did not obtain.

Based on this, Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Youh described the actions of the Majority Bloc as vague. However, the Bloc allegedly violated the Supreme Court’s December 6, 2024, ruling by refusing to comply and failing to conduct legislative business in accordance with the Court’s directives.

On March 15, 2025, Speaker Koffa filed a Bill of Information against the self-styled Majority Bloc. The Court heard oral arguments on March 26, 2025, and issued its ruling on April 23, 2025, confirming Koffa as the legitimate Speaker of the 55th House of Representatives.

Following the ruling, Speaker Koffa extended an olive branch to his opponents, calling for reconciliation in a bid to restore unity and stability in the House.

“Today, the Supreme Court of Liberia reaffirmed and upheld the rule of law in what has been described as a legislative impasse in the House of Representatives. We pledged that the Court’s ruling would be our final stop, and it has now effectively recognized our leadership as constitutionally mandated. We welcome that ruling,” he said.

Koffa expressed gratitude to God for giving him and his colleagues the strength to endure what he described as a challenging six-month period.

“To my colleagues who stood for the rule of law and risked both their political and financial lives, I offer my sincere salute,” he added. “Your dedication is a true testament that society becomes great when ordinary people rise to do extraordinary things.” He continued “Today, you walk into history with the wind at your back and the thanks of a grateful nation.” he noted

The Speaker also thanked the hundreds of thousands of Liberians at home and abroad who prayed with them during the crisis.

“Your words of encouragement held us up, lest we fall. Your belief in us means everything. Without your support, this advancement in our democracy would not have been possible. We will always remember you,” he said. “We will always be proud, and we will always be your servants.”

Additionally, he called on his colleagues who opposed him to join in ending the stalemate at Capitol Hill, emphasizing “Come, let us reason together. In the words of President John F. Kennedy, let us remember on both sides that civility is not a sign of weakness, and sincerity is always subject to proof.”

Speaker Koffa at the same time said he plans to reach out to Deputy Speaker Fallah and Richard Koon to form a joint reconciliation and transitional committee.

“Let us not negotiate out of fear but let us not fear to negotiate. I will reach out to Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah and Hon. Richard Koon so that we can establish a joint reconciliation and transitional committee,” he pledged.

Meanwhile, he urged all lawmakers to demonstrate to the nation that democracy can thrive despite their differences. – Edited by Othello B. Garblah.