Paynesville City, Liberia – In a controversial move, Maxwell Kemayan has been removed as Chairperson of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), a political party that supported the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) during the 2023 presidential election. This development has sparked accusations that the Unity Party, which won the 2023 election, is attempting to weaken and absorb parties allied with the CDC to consolidate power ahead of the 2029 elections.
Sources within MOVEE claim that since the Unity Party’s victory, Kemayan has been under immense pressure, with allegations that the Unity Party is exerting influence to dismantle parties that backed the CDC. “This move is part of a broader strategy by the Unity Party to undermine and absorb any political entities that could pose a challenge in the next election,” said an anonymous source close to the party leadership.
In line with Article 19, Section 5(a) of the 2016 Bi-laws and Constitution, which states that a simple majority of the National Executive Committee (NEC) members can make binding decisions, the Movement for Economic Empowerment took disciplinary actions against Kemayan and other party executives. The NEC, the highest decision-making body within the party apart from the convention, cited violations of the party’s Bi-laws and Constitution as the basis for their actions.
During a press conference in Paynesville on Tuesday, June 4, 2024, National Chairman Matthew Shan announced the removal of Maxwell Kemayan. He also disclosed changes in the party’s county and national leadership structures. Shan listed mismanagement of party funds, suspension and expulsion of key members without adhering to the party’s Bi-laws and Constitution as reasons for Kemayan’s removal.
“The actions we have taken are necessary to safeguard the party’s image and maintain its status in Liberia’s political space,” Shan stated. He further explained that other officials, including the Secretary General and Vice Chair for Finance and Fiscal Affairs, were also removed. These officials are currently serving in foreign missions on behalf of the Liberian government in Ghana and Sierra Leone.
Critics argue that the timing and nature of these actions suggest external influence, specifically from the Unity Party. Political analyst David Kollie commented, “The Unity Party’s tactics appear to be aimed at consolidating power by destabilizing and absorbing opposition parties. This kind of political maneuvering is detrimental to a healthy democratic process.”
Kemayan, who was endorsed as MOVEE’s political leader on September 22, 2022, at an emergency national convention, has yet to publicly respond to his removal. His tenure, which was supposed to stabilize and strengthen the party, now ends amidst allegations of financial mismanagement and internal conflicts.
The Movement for Economic Empowerment was established in 2016 through the Gbarnga convention, with former Central Bank governor Mills Jones as its initial political leader. The party made its electoral debut in the 2017 general elections with Jones as its presidential candidate.
As the political climate in Liberia heats up, these developments underscore the intense struggle for power and influence in the lead-up to the 2029 elections. The accusations against the Unity Party, if true, raise serious concerns about the future of multi-party democracy in the country.
In a statement reflecting the tension and stakes involved, an anonymous MOVEE executive said, “We will not be silent while our party is being torn apart by external forces. Our commitment to democratic principles and transparency is unwavering.”
