MONROVIA – Former President George Manneh Weah’s effort to bring opposition political actors around the same table is gaining momentum, with Nimba County Senator Samuel G. Kogar confirming that he will participate in a roundtable discussion convened by the Coalition for Democratic Change on Saturday, September 5, 2026.
Kogar’s acceptance represents one of the latest developments in an initiative that could become an important test of opposition cooperation in Liberia.
The senator confirmed his acceptance of the CDC invitation on Thursday, saying he welcomed the opportunity to exchange views on issues confronting the country.
“I am pleased to accept the CDC’s invitation to a roundtable discussion on Saturday, September 5, 2026,” Kogar said.
“I look forward to a meaningful and constructive conversation on issues affecting Liberia,” he added.
The meeting is expected to bring opposition figures together at Jamaica Resort in Paynesville for discussions that extend beyond party politics.
The formal invitation says the gathering will address Liberia’s political, governance, economic, security and democratic challenges, along with other issues considered to be of common national concern.
Former President Weah, who remains the political leader of the CDC, will preside over the meeting.
The invitation was issued by CDC National Chairman Atty. Janga A. Kowo on August 28 and formally requested Kogar’s participation in his capacity as Nimba County senator and former member of the House of Representatives.
The choice of issues outlined in the invitation suggests that the meeting is being positioned as a broad opposition consultation rather than a discussion limited to CDC affairs.
That could be significant in a political environment where opposition parties and individual political actors do not always share the same strategies or priorities.
The central question now is whether the planned roundtable can move opposition engagement beyond individual criticism of the government toward a more coordinated discussion of national issues.
Kogar’s participation could contribute to that process.
His political experience spans both chambers of the National Legislature, where he has participated in debates over national legislation, public policy and governance.
His acceptance also means that the meeting will include a sitting member of the Senate, potentially giving legislative perspectives a stronger voice in the discussion.
The roundtable comes against the backdrop of increasing political debate over the direction of the Boakai administration and concerns being raised by opposition actors about governance and national development.
The CDC says the purpose of the meeting is to facilitate a “frank exchange” of views and ideas.
The wording is notable because it does not predetermine what participants must agree upon.
Instead, it creates space for political leaders to articulate their positions, identify areas of agreement and discuss differences.
Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah Sr. has been designated as lead and coordinator of the Opposition Leaders’ Roundtable, while the National Convening Secretariat is expected to circulate the proposed agenda and other logistical information.
The meeting could therefore become a starting point for a broader opposition consultation process.
But opposition unity is rarely achieved simply by convening a meeting.
Political leaders must still reconcile differences over leadership, strategy, policy priorities and the question of how aggressively to challenge the government.
That makes Saturday’s gathering potentially more consequential than a routine political meeting.
If participants are able to identify common concerns and establish a mechanism for continued dialogue, the roundtable could lay the groundwork for greater opposition coordination.
If disagreements dominate the discussion, however, it could demonstrate the difficulty of building a unified opposition front.
For Weah, the meeting also offers an opportunity to demonstrate whether his influence extends beyond the CDC and whether he can serve as a convening figure for a broader group of opposition actors.
His recent return to Liberia, coupled with his call for political leaders to engage in dialogue, has already placed renewed attention on his political role.
Kogar’s acceptance provides an early indication that at least some opposition figures are prepared to respond to that call.
Still, participation should not automatically be interpreted as agreement with the CDC or with Weah’s political agenda.
Kogar himself described his planned participation in terms of having a “meaningful and constructive conversation” about Liberia, leaving the outcome open.
