Vice President Jeremiah Koung
In a heartfelt public plea amid the humid bustle of Ganta's central market square, Muslim Communities from Liberia's vote-rich Nimba County openly begged Vice President Jeremiah Koung to lobby with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for jobs in the new government. The group, representing several mosques and community leaders from Ganta and surrounding towns like Sanniquellie, claimed their votes were pivotal in the closely contested 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections that propelled the Unity Party's Boakai-Koung Ticket to power.
Yet, they lamented, local and national government appointments in Nimba County and across Liberia have largely bypassed them, fueling resentment, frustration and deepening poverty despite their support for the ruling party. Nimba County, Liberia's second-most populous region and a mineral-rich powerhouse bordering Guinea and Côte d'Ivoire, has long been a political battleground. Its diverse population, including a significant Muslim minority of around 15-20% concentrated in trading hubs like Ganta, played a key role in mobilizing voters for the Unity Party. However, community spokesman Alhaji Musa Dukuly highlighted the stark exclusion.
"We prayed, campaigned and voted Unity Party, but our families still struggle with unemployment while others feast on appointments. This breeds bad blood and erodes trust." The Muslims specifically decried their absence from Nimba County's local government structures, including the Mining Management Committee—a powerful body overseeing social development funds from lucrative iron ore operations by ArcelorMittal. "Not a single Muslim sits on that council," Mr. Dukuly added, "despite our contributions to the county's economy through trade and small businesses."
The appeal unfolded during a lively outreach program organized by Vice President Koung, a Nimba native and evangelical pastor known for his fiery sermons and bridge-building efforts between Christian and Muslim groups. Under a canopy strung with Unity Party banners and flanked by drummers and prayer leaders, VP Koung addressed a crowd of over 200, praising the interfaith harmony that, he said, "through continuous prayers from Christians and Muslims nationwide, brought our party to power."In response, the vice president, dressed in a crisp white kaftan to honor the occasion, pledged swift action.’’
"I will personally carry your request to President Boakai for national employment opportunities," he assured the cheering crowd. For local roles, VP Koung committed to advocating their inclusion in county authorities, urging patience: "Unity means no one is left behind your time is coming.’’ The event underscored simmering tensions in post-election Liberia, where patronage politics often prioritizes ethnic and partisan loyalties. As Nimba's youth unemployment hovers above 40%, analysts warn that such exclusions could spark unrest in this strategic county. Community leaders expressed cautious optimism, with one elder noting, VP Koung's word carries ‘‘weight here; we're watching closely’’.
Author: Samuel Flomo
