Inter-Parliamentary Union Acknowledges Koon’s Controversial Speakership Position

Monrovia, Liberia: The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has officially notified the House of Representatives of the Republic of Liberia regarding the inclusion of controversial Speaker, leader of the majority bloc, Richard Nagbe Koon, in its official database system.

In a formal letter addressed to the Chief Clerk, Mildred Sayon, and read in plenary Tuesday, March 11, 2025, during the 14th Day Sitting of the House of Representatives of the 55^th Legislature, the IPU said, “We have included Honorable Richard Nagbe Koon as the Speaker of the House of Representatives in our database.".

The IPU is a prestigious international organization that serves as a platform for national parliaments around the world. The IPU mission is to promote democratic governance, accountability, and foster international cooperation, and to also advocate for gender equality in politics, youth engagement, and sustainable development within the global legislative community.

Founded in 1889 by Frédéric Passy of France and William Randal Cremer of the United Kingdom, the organization was established to create a permanent forum for political multilateral negotiations.

Over time, the IPU evolved from being an organization of individual parliamentarians to one that encompasses national legislatures of sovereign states. As of 2020, the IPU consists of 180 member parliaments and 13 regional parliamentary assemblies as associate members.

In addition to its notification of the leader of the majority bloc, Koon’s inclusion in the database, the IPU has extended an invitation for him to attend and participate in its upcoming 150th Assembly, which will take place in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, from April 5-9, 2025.

This event, according to a dispatch, marks a significant milestone for the IPU and will provide an opportunity for further engagement and collaboration among global lawmakers.

Controversial Speaker Koon’s inclusion in the IPU database seems to be a testament to the growing influence of Liberia on the international parliamentary stage, and the House of Representatives is honored by this recognition.

Edited: E. Geedahgar Garsuah, Sr.