Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction

The Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) is a political party in Liberia.

Background

In 2010, former warlord, Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson founded the National Union for Democratic Progress (NUDP).^[1] He contested the 2011 presidential election with the party.^[2] Ahead of the 2014 Senate election, Johnson was expelled from the NUDP.^[3] Johnson won re-election to the Senate as an independent.^[4] By November 2015, Johnson had begun the task of founding a new political party, the MDR.^[5]

History

The MDR was certified by the National Elections Commission in May 2016.^[6] Senator Prince Johnson was initially the leader of the MDR.^[7] Johnson contested the presidency with the party, alongside running mate Audrian R. Smith-Forbes, in the 2017 election. The MDR ticket won 8.2% of the vote. It came in fourth place, behind the Liberty Party.^[8] Johnson supported Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) candidate George Weah in the subsequent run-off election.^[9] Weah was ultimately elected president.^[8]

In the 2017 House of Representatives election, the MDR ran 38 candidates.^[10] Two were elected: Jeremiah Koung in the Nimba #1 district and Gunpue L. Kargon in the Nimba #4 district.^[11] In the 2020 election, Rep. Koung was elected to the Senate under the MDR banner.^[12]

By late 2022, Johnson withdrew his and the MDR's support for President Weah and the CDC. Johnson cited the lack of Nimba County representation in top appointed positions.^[13] In December 2022, Johnson resigned as head of the MDR.^[14] In an MDR convention on 22 December, Senator Koung was elected standard bearer.^[15] As standard bearer, Koung continued Johnson's policy of opposing the CDC.^[16] In May 2023, the MDR's National Executive Committee expelled three senior officials including Rep. Kargon and National MDR Vice Chairman for Governmental Affairs Wilfred Bangura for maintaining loyalty to the CDC. They violated the party's constitution, which prohibits loyalties to other parties.^[17]

After disclosing his breaking away from the CDC, Johnson announced he was seeking collaboration with other opposition parties.^[17] On 28 April 2023, former vice president and standard bearer of the Unity Party (UP), Joseph Boakai announced MDR Standard Bearer Koung as his running mate for his 2023 presidential run.^[18] After the initial October election, neither Boakai nor incumbent President Weah received a majority of the vote, triggering a run-off election in November.^[19] On 17 November 2023, after the run-off election, President Weah conceded the election, resulting in Boakai becoming president-elect and Koung becoming vice president-elect.^[20]

In the 2023 legislative elections, MDR candidates won elections in four House districts in Nimba County: #3, #4, #6, and #8.^[21] Johnson was re-elected in the Senate.^[22]

After President Boakai's inauguration, there were fractures between him and Johnson in the following months. By March 2024, Johnson had been disappointed with Boakai's appointments, again claiming too little representation from Nimba County and the MDR. Vice President Koung has also reportedly exerted less influence over Boakai than Johnson expected. Boakai's calling for a war crime court, an idea opposed by Johnson, has been another friction point between the two. In response, Johnson has been strategizing against Boakai and the UP in the upcoming 2024 by-elections.^[23]

References

1. "Liberia: NEC Certificates PYJ Party". The Informer, Monrovia. AllAfrica. September 23, 2010. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
2. Butty, James (September 24, 2011). "Former Liberian Warlord Ponders a Presidential Run in 2011". Voice of America. Retrieved August 24, 2011.
3. Johnson, Obediah (January 7, 2015). "Liberia: PYJ - God's Anointing Got Me Re-Elected". Heritage Liberia. AllAfrica. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
4. . National Elections Commission. December 27, 2014. Archived from the original on February 29, 2016. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
5. Harmon, William Q. (November 15, 2015). "Liberia: PYJ Forms New Political Party". Liberian Observer. AllAfrica. Retrieved December 6, 2023.
6. "Liberia Certifies 22nd Political Party Ahead of 2017 Elections". FrontPage Africa. 8 May 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
7. Domah, Thomas (22 December 2022). "PYJ's end game". The New Dawn Liberia. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
8. (PDF). National Elections Commission (Liberia). 19 October 2017. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 31 October 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
9. "Onetime Warlord Endorses Former Soccer Star for Liberian Presidency". Voice of America. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
10. "National Elections in Liberia, Fall 2017" (PDF). Carter Center. 2017. p. 47. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
11. . National Elections Commission (Liberia). 29 December 2017. Archived from the original on 30 December 2017. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
12. . National Elections Commission (Liberia). 21 December 2020. Archived from the original on 21 January 2021. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
13. Clayeh, J. H. Webster (22 November 2022). "Liberia: Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson Halts Political Support to Weah Reelection's Bid". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
14. Karmo, Henry (21 December 2022). "Liberia: Prince Johnson 'Steps Aside' as Standard Bearer of the Movement for Democratic Reconstruction, Sen. Koung to Take Over". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
15. "Sen. Jeremiah Koung Becomes MDR New Political Leader". The Independent Probe Newspaper. 24 December 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
16. Johnson, Obediah (30 January 2023). "Liberia: Sen. Koung Vows to Discourage Pay-for-Play ahead of October Elections". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
17. Johnson, Obediah (17 May 2023). "Liberia: Prince Johnson's MDR Expells Wilfred Bangura, Melvin Yealu and Gonpu Kargon for Maintaining Support to Pres. Weah's Re-election". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
18. Karweye, S. (16 May 2023). "Liberia: Corruption Allegations Against Jeremiah Koung as the Senator Becomes UP Vice Presidential Aspirant". Liberian Observer. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
19. "Liberia presidential election heads for November run-off vote". Reuters. 24 October 2023. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
20. Dodoo, Lennart (17 November 2023). "Pres. Weah Concedes Defeat, Congratulates President-elect Joseph Boakai". Liberian Observer. Retrieved 17 November 2023.
21. "Nimba County 2023 House of REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION RESULTS". National Elections Commission (Liberia). October 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
22. . National Elections Commission (Liberia). 26 October 2023. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023. Retrieved 18 November 2023.
23. Dodoo, Lennart; Lomax, Selma (March 19, 2024). "Liberia: Disappointed Prince Johnson Begins Plot against Unity Party Signaling An Early Fallout with the Regime". FrontPage Africa. Retrieved April 7, 2024.