National Transitional Legislative Assembly of Liberia
Encyclopedia
The National Transitional Legislative Assembly (NTLA) was Liberia
's legislative body during the country's transition from civil war to democratic rule (October 2003–January 2006).
between government forces of President Charles Taylor and two rebel groups - Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
(LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia
(MODEL). It also called for the creation of a broad-based transitional government that would rule for two years, ending with the holding of elections
in October 2005 and the installation of a democratically elected government by January 2006.
, which was elected
in 1997. It consisted of 76 appointed members representing the Taylor government, rebel
groups, political parties, and civil society
. The distribution of seats among these groups is as follows:
Note: Civil Society and Special Interest Groups included the National Bar Association, Liberian business organizations, Women's organizations, Trade union
s, Teachers unions, Liberians in the Diaspora
, and Youth organizations.
1) Function as a legislative body.
2) Approve the policies and programs of the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) for implementation by the cabinet.
3) Encourage and support the emergence of a new democratic space, particularly in the areas of human rights
and freedom of expression.
and Deputy Speaker elected by Assembly members.
George Dweh
, a founding member of LURD and Eddington Varmah
, a Justice Minister
in the Taylor government were elected unopposed as Speaker and Deputy Speaker in October 2003. Both were suspended indefinitely on 14 March 2005, along with two other members for spending money without proper authorization. A vote held on 17 March resulted in George Koukou
being elected acting Speaker and David Gbala
chosen as Deputy Speaker. Koukou received 39 votes while his only opponent Fayah Gbollie, a former presidential candidate and representative of the Free Democratic Party
(FDP), won 4.
Liberia
Liberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
's legislative body during the country's transition from civil war to democratic rule (October 2003–January 2006).
Background
The NTLA was created as part of an August 2003 peace agreement that ended a civil warSecond Liberian Civil War
The Second Liberian Civil War began in 1999 when a rebel group backed by the government of neighbouring Guinea, the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy , emerged in northern Liberia. In early 2003, a second rebel group, the Movement for Democracy in Liberia, emerged in the south, and...
between government forces of President Charles Taylor and two rebel groups - Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy
The Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy was a rebel group in Liberia that was active from 1999 until after the peace accords that ended the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003...
(LURD) and the Movement for Democracy in Liberia
Movement for Democracy in Liberia
The Movement for Democracy in Liberia was a rebel group in Liberia that became active in March 2003, launching attacks from Côte d'Ivoire...
(MODEL). It also called for the creation of a broad-based transitional government that would rule for two years, ending with the holding of elections
Elections in Liberia
Liberia elects on national level a head of state - the president - and a legislature. The president is elected for a six-year term by the people. The Legislature has two chambers. The House of Representatives has 64 members, elected for a six-year term. The Senate has 30 members...
in October 2005 and the installation of a democratically elected government by January 2006.
Composition
The NTLA replaced the bicameral LegislatureLegislature of Liberia
The Legislature of Liberia is bicameral, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives , in the same manner as the Congress of the United States....
, which was elected
Liberian elections, 1997
The 1997 Liberian general election was held on 19 July 1997 as part of the 1996 peace agreement ending the First Liberian Civil War. The presidency, as well as all seats in the House of Representatives and the Senate were up for election...
in 1997. It consisted of 76 appointed members representing the Taylor government, rebel
Rebellion
Rebellion, uprising or insurrection, is a refusal of obedience or order. It may, therefore, be seen as encompassing a range of behaviors aimed at destroying or replacing an established authority such as a government or a head of state...
groups, political parties, and civil society
Civil society
Civil society is composed of the totality of many voluntary social relationships, civic and social organizations, and institutions that form the basis of a functioning society, as distinct from the force-backed structures of a state , the commercial institutions of the market, and private criminal...
. The distribution of seats among these groups is as follows:
| Government of Liberia | 12 Seats |
| Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) | 12 Seats |
| Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL) | 12 Seats |
| Political Party Representatives | 18 Seats |
| County Representatives | 15 Seats |
| Civil Society and Special Interest Groups | 07 Seats |
Note: Civil Society and Special Interest Groups included the National Bar Association, Liberian business organizations, Women's organizations, Trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
s, Teachers unions, Liberians in the Diaspora
Diaspora
A diaspora is "the movement, migration, or scattering of people away from an established or ancestral homeland" or "people dispersed by whatever cause to more than one location", or "people settled far from their ancestral homelands".The word has come to refer to historical mass-dispersions of...
, and Youth organizations.
Responsibilities
According to the 2003 peace agreement, the responsibilities of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly were to:1) Function as a legislative body.
2) Approve the policies and programs of the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL) for implementation by the cabinet.
3) Encourage and support the emergence of a new democratic space, particularly in the areas of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
and freedom of expression.
Leadership
The NTLA was led by a SpeakerSpeaker (politics)
The term speaker is a title often given to the presiding officer of a deliberative assembly, especially a legislative body. The speaker's official role is to moderate debate, make rulings on procedure, announce the results of votes, and the like. The speaker decides who may speak and has the...
and Deputy Speaker elected by Assembly members.
George Dweh
George Dweh
George Dweh is a Liberian politician and a member of the ethnic Krahn group operating in the LURD and the MODEL faction groups. He is also cousin to late President Samuel K. Doe, a Krahn who seized power in a 1980 coup...
, a founding member of LURD and Eddington Varmah
Eddington Varmah
Eddington Varmah is a Liberian politician. He served as Justice Minister in the administration of President Charles Taylor. After Taylor resigned from office in mid-2003, Varmah was chosen as Deputy Speaker of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly of Liberia .-References:...
, a Justice Minister
Justice Minister
A justice ministry is a ministry or other government agency charged with justice. The ministry is often headed by a minister for justice or secretary of justice or secretary for justice; sometimes the head of a department of justice is entitled attorney general.Specific duties may relate to...
in the Taylor government were elected unopposed as Speaker and Deputy Speaker in October 2003. Both were suspended indefinitely on 14 March 2005, along with two other members for spending money without proper authorization. A vote held on 17 March resulted in George Koukou
George Koukou
George Koukou was acting Speaker of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly of Liberia from 17 March 2005 to January 2006. Originally from Nimba County, he now resides in the capital city of Monrovia. He is a member of the Mano ethnic group.Prior to becoming a member of the National...
being elected acting Speaker and David Gbala
David Gbala
David Gbala was acting Deputy Speaker of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly of Liberia from 17 March 2005 to January 2006. He is from Grand Gedeh County.Gbala replaced Eddington Varmah as Deputy Speaker.-References:...
chosen as Deputy Speaker. Koukou received 39 votes while his only opponent Fayah Gbollie, a former presidential candidate and representative of the Free Democratic Party
Free Democratic Party (Liberia)
The Free Democratic Party is a political party in Liberia. It participated in the 1997 elections and fielded candidates in the 11 October 2005 elections....
(FDP), won 4.
See also
- LiberiaLiberiaLiberia , officially the Republic of Liberia, is a country in West Africa. It is bordered by Sierra Leone on the west, Guinea on the north and Côte d'Ivoire on the east. Liberia's coastline is composed of mostly mangrove forests while the more sparsely populated inland consists of forests that open...
- Legislature of LiberiaLegislature of LiberiaThe Legislature of Liberia is bicameral, consisting of a Senate and House of Representatives , in the same manner as the Congress of the United States....
- Senate of LiberiaSenate of LiberiaThe Senate of Liberia is the upper house of the bicameral legislative branch of Liberia, and together with the House of Representatives comprises the Legislature of Liberia...
- House of Representatives of LiberiaHouse of Representatives of LiberiaThe House of Representatives is the lower chamber of the bicameral Liberian Legislature. Legislative elections took place on 11 October 2005, and the elected members took office in January 2006.-Candidate eligibility:...
- Senate of Liberia
- Legislative Branch
- List of national legislatures