MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai delivered his second State of the Nation Address on Monday, but the occasion was marred by notable absences and heightened speculation about tensions between the branches of government. The absence of Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh and her fellow Supreme Court Justices drew significant attention, with their empty seats raising questions about the state of relations between the Judiciary and the other arms of government.
The Judiciary’s absence came amidst growing unease following the controversial removal of former Speaker Fonati Koffa, which led to the rise of Acting Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon. Critics have described the process as unconstitutional, fueling speculation that the Judiciary’s nonattendance might have been a silent protest against the ongoing turmoil in the Legislature.
Chief Justice Yuoh’s whereabouts were later confirmed, she is currently attending an international judicial forum in Cairo, Egypt. While her participation in the meeting of Chief Justices and Presidents of Supreme and Constitutional Courts of Africa and the Middle East explains her absence, the absence of the other Supreme Court Justices remains unexplained, leaving the public and observers puzzled.
Despite the Judiciary’s nonappearance, President Boakai proceeded with his address, emphasizing his administration’s progress in areas such as education, infrastructure, and health care, while also acknowledging the challenges still facing the nation. However, the Judiciary’s absence overshadowed much of the discourse surrounding his speech, fueling concerns about deepening rifts within the government.
The absence of former Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Manneh Weah also added to the peculiar atmosphere at the Capitol. Their decision not to attend raised questions, with some observers speculating about their reasons while others dismissed it as a personal choice unrelated to current political dynamics.
For many, the Judiciary’s absence carries symbolic weight. Traditionally, the State of the Nation Address serves as a moment of unity, bringing together the Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches under one roof. The conspicuous absence of an entire branch of government during such a significant event, therefore, raises troubling questions about Liberia’s political cohesion.
