Monrovia, Liberia — Last week, Martin Kollie tendered his resignation from President Joseph Boakai’s Asset Recovery Team, citing concerns over the President’s susceptibility to influence from individuals who did not contribute to his election victory. Kollie, a key figure in Boakai’s ascent to power, has publicly severed ties with the administration, criticizing the regime on Spoon FM and declaring his departure from Boakai’s metaphorical “rescue train.”
However, insider sources suggest that Kollie’s departure may be driven by personal ambitions rather than principled objections. According to these sources, Kollie had his eyes set on representing Liberia at the International Maritime Organization (IMO), a role left vacant by Moses Owen Brown following allegations of sexual assault that resulted in his incarceration in South Korea.
Despite lacking any maritime expertise, Kollie reportedly lobbied intensively for the position, pressuring President Boakai to appoint a Foreign Affairs Minister who would support his candidacy. When President Boakai appointed Sarah Beslow Nyanti instead, a candidate with whom Kollie had no rapport and who showed no inclination to endorse his IMO ambitions, Kollie publicly opposed her nomination, straining his relationship with the President and his inner circle.
“Kollie’s actions reveal a self-serving agenda masked as principled dissent,” commented a senior government official who requested anonymity. “His resignation is not about the direction of the administration but about his failure to secure a prestigious appointment.”
Kollie’s frustration did not end there. He reportedly established a media firm aimed at securing government PR contracts and sought the position of Deputy Presidential Spokesperson, a role that would have granted him direct access to the President and significant leverage. The appointment of Joseph Vallai, a longtime Boakai ally, to the position instead of Kollie further fueled his discontent.
“Martin Kollie’s criticism of the administration appears to be rooted in personal grievances,” said political analyst Rebecca Johnson. “His recent moves suggest he is more concerned with his own advancement than with the nation’s welfare.”
Kollie, feeling increasingly marginalized, has now positioned himself as an opponent of the government. On Spoon FM, he claimed his “revolution has been hijacked” and vowed to reclaim it. Yet, his critics argue that his motives are far from altruistic.
“Kollie’s sudden opposition to the government is questionable, especially given his track record,” remarked Dr. Emmanuel Nkrumah, a political science professor. “He is currently under scrutiny for constructing a high-rise apartment while supposedly a full-time student in the Netherlands. Moreover, his involvement with the Asset Recovery Team, itself mired in corruption allegations, undermines his credibility.”
As the fallout from Kollie’s resignation continues to unfold, the real reasons behind his departure remain a subject of intense debate. Whether driven by genuine concern for the nation or personal ambition, Martin Kollie’s exit has certainly added a new layer of to the issues the Rescue Mission will have to deal with.
