MONROVIA, Liberia – As Liberia’s political actors begin positioning themselves for the future, growing attention is being placed on one of the defining factors behind President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s rise to power: the ability to build, maintain, and reward political alliances.
Political commentator and Unity Party supporter Lasana S. Kanneh has argued that the current administration’s approach to coalition management represents a significant departure from what he describes as the Congress for Democratic Change’s (CDC) handling of its own governing alliance after the 2017 elections.
According to Kanneh, the lessons of Liberia’s recent political history reveal that election victories are often built on broad coalitions, but sustaining power requires honoring the commitments that bring those coalitions together.
From Opposition Alliance to State Power
Following consecutive electoral defeats in 2005 and 2011, the CDC undertook a major political reorganization ahead of the 2017 presidential election. The party formed the Coalition for Democratic Change, bringing together the CDC, the National Patriotic Party (NPP) led by former President Charles Taylor, and the Liberia People’s Democratic Party (LPDP) headed by former House Speaker J. Alex Tyler.
The coalition selected George Weah as its presidential candidate and Jewel Howard Taylor as his running mate. The alliance was further strengthened by the support of the late Senator Prince Y. Johnson and his Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR).
The strategy proved successful. In the second round of voting, Weah secured victory with more than 61 percent of the vote, while the CDC also increased its legislative influence by capturing 21 seats in the House of Representatives.
Political observers at the time described the coalition as one of the most effective opposition alliances in Liberia’s post-war democratic history.
Coalition Fractures During Governance
Kanneh contends that challenges emerged after the CDC assumed power.
He argues that distinctions between the coalition structure and the CDC as a political party gradually became blurred, resulting in growing dissatisfaction among alliance partners who expected broader participation in governance and decision-making.
According to his analysis, several coalition members felt sidelined in government appointments and policy influence.
The LPDP eventually declined to endorse a coalition restructuring agreement. The NPP also withheld support for the arrangement despite having the Vice President within the administration. At the same time, Senator Prince Johnson and the MDR increasingly distanced themselves from the government amid concerns about political exclusion.
Political analysts have frequently cited these developments as contributing factors to the weakening of the coalition that helped secure the CDC’s 2017 victory.
By the time the 2023 elections arrived, many former allies had either withdrawn their support or aligned themselves elsewhere, creating significant challenges for the ruling party’s re-election efforts.
Unity Party’s Coalition Model
After losing power in 2017, the Unity Party embarked on an extensive effort to rebuild political partnerships across Liberia.
Ahead of the 2023 election, the party assembled a broad coalition that included the MDR, Liberty Party, All Liberia Coalition Party (ALCOP), LPDP, Grassroots Development Movement (GDM), Liberian People’s Party (LPP), African Liberation League (ALL), Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia (EFFL), Liberia First Movement (LFM), and several other political organizations.
The coalition ultimately propelled Joseph Boakai to victory in the closely contested 2023 presidential election.
According to Kanneh, the Boakai administration has since sought to distinguish itself by implementing a deliberate power-sharing arrangement designed to reflect commitments made during the campaign.
Several coalition partners have secured positions across government institutions.
Members of the Liberty Party have assumed leadership and senior administrative roles in multiple agencies, while MDR representatives have been appointed to positions within the Ministry of Labor and Ministry of Finance and Development Planning.
ALCOP members have received appointments within the National Disaster Management Agency, the Ministry of Posts and Telecommunications, and other state institutions. The Liberian People’s Party has also secured representation in environmental and foreign affairs institutions.
Other coalition partners have similarly been appointed to diplomatic, ministerial, and administrative positions throughout government.
Supporters of the administration argue that these appointments demonstrate a commitment to honoring political agreements and maintaining coalition cohesion.
Building Trust Through Political Commitments
Kanneh believes the current approach has strengthened trust among coalition partners and reduced the internal tensions that often emerge after electoral victories.
He argues that honoring pre-election agreements has created greater stability within the governing alliance and reinforced confidence among political stakeholders who may otherwise feel marginalized after helping secure electoral success.
According to him, the administration’s willingness to share political opportunities has created a sharp contrast with the experience of some parties that participated in previous governing arrangements.
He maintains that this strategy has allowed the Unity Party to build stronger relationships with former rivals while positioning itself as a coalition-friendly governing force.
Looking Toward 2029
As discussions gradually shift toward Liberia’s next electoral cycle, coalition politics is expected to remain a major factor in determining political success.
Kanneh argues that parties such as the Liberty Party, MDR, LPDP, and ALCOP have experienced different models of coalition governance over the past decade and are likely to place significant value on trust, inclusion, and political commitments when making future decisions.
He further contends that criticisms suggesting the Unity Party’s victory was driven solely by campaign messaging overlook the critical role played by coalition-building and strategic partnerships.
For many political observers, the broader lesson emerging from Liberia’s recent political history is that winning elections requires alliances, but maintaining political relevance depends on how those alliances are managed after victory is secured.
As the Boakai administration enters the next phase of its governance agenda, the durability of its coalition may become one of the most important indicators of its long-term political strength and its prospects heading into the 2029 elections.
