Liberia: Cole Rejects Push to Expel Kolubah, Calls for Due Process As Border Tensions Rise

Lead

MONROVIA — As tensions rise over the disputed Sorluma border in Lofa County, Bong County District 3 Rep. Josiah Marvin Cole has rejected calls to expel fellow lawmaker Rep. Yekeh Kolubah, urging restraint and due process. Speaking at a press briefing Thursday, March 26, Cole said Kolubah must be given the opportunity to explain his controversial remarks rather than face immediate punitive action.

Kolubah sparked outrage after claiming that the disputed Sorluma area in Foya District belongs to Guinea, suggesting that Guineans should "come and take their land." His comments came in response to President Joseph Boakai, who, during a demolition exercise, insisted that the Armed Forces of Liberia should retain the land, noting that "God is not making new land."

Coverage Comparison

Reports on the status of Kolubah's expulsion differ significantly. One report states that the House of Representatives has dismissed widespread reports suggesting Kolubah is facing imminent expulsion, clarifying that no such decision has been taken. Robert Haynes, Director for Press and Public Affairs for the Legislature, categorically rejected the reports, stressing that the House's leadership lacks the authority to expel any member. "Only the full Plenary can make such decisions," Haynes stated. "The House is currently on break, and no leadership meeting can substitute for a constitutionally mandated Plenary action." This clarification points to Article 38 of the Liberian Constitution, which requires a two-thirds concurrence of the full membership for expulsion.

However, other reports indicate that the House of Representatives has in fact expelled Kolubah. One report details that exactly 49 lawmakers, drawn from 14 of Liberia's 15 counties, signed the expulsion resolution — precisely the two-thirds constitutional threshold required. The formal proceedings were triggered April 9, 2026, when a Montserrado County lawmaker filed a complaint alleging gross misconduct, oath violation, and repeated breach of House rules. The House referred the matter to the Committee on Rules, Order and Administration, chaired by Rep. James M. Kolleh of Bong County, with a 10-day mandate to investigate and report.

Another report states that the Supreme Court issued a stay order to halt the expulsion proceedings, and that the House's defiance of that order raises concerns about democratic norms. Yet another report claims that the House has voted to expel Kolubah and that the expulsion may be voided by the court.

A separate report, dated after the purported expulsion, states that on April 17, Representative Kolubah was expelled by Liberia's House of Representatives following his remarks on the border dispute.

Key Claims

• Rep. Josiah Marvin Cole opposed the expulsion of Rep. Yekeh Kolubah, urging restraint and due process. He stated: "Let him appear so that he can clearly explain the statements he made. I want to be very explicit: I will not be part of any effort to expel our colleague." He added: "If Yekeh Kolubah were to appear here, I would never participate in expelling him. I want to make that very clear." Cole also urged lawmakers to invite key members of the executive branch — including the ministers of Justice, Internal Affairs, National Defense, and Foreign Affairs — for a comprehensive briefing on the border situation.

• The House of Representatives has been reported to have expelled Rep. Yekeh Kolubah. One report details that the expulsion resolution was signed by 49 lawmakers, including at least 18 from opposition parties. The report notes that Kolubah had aligned himself with the opposition after breaking with the ruling Unity Party government, and that members of the Unity Party itself also voted to remove him.

• The Supreme Court issued a stay order to halt the expulsion proceedings against Rep. Kolubah, according to one report. The same report suggests the House may have defied this order, raising concerns about the separation of powers and the rule of law.

• The House of Representatives has clarified that no decision has been made on Kolubah's expulsion, as the House is currently on break and only the full Plenary can make such a decision, according to another report.

• The expulsion of Kolubah has sparked concerns about democratic norms and freedom of speech. One report describes the expulsion as a "political witch hunt," while another mentions concerns about "hypocrisy" and "impunity." The Press Union of Liberia has criticized the government's actions, according to one report, and there are calls for clearer legal standards and proportional penalties.

• The expulsion may set a precedent for silencing dissenting voices in Liberia, as suggested by one report. Another report connects the Kolubah case to other prosecutions, including the imprisonment of social media influencer Justine Oldpa Yeazeahn (known as Prophet Key) and the sentencing of activist Zainab Sheriff in Sierra Leone, raising alarm about a rollback of free speech and political dissent in the region.