MONROVIA – Following his strong-worded response to the Government of Liberia on Sunday, May 25 over allegation of inflammatory remarks intended to seek the downfall or failure of the Joseph Boakai’s Administration, Bomi County Senator Edwin M. Snowe Tuesday, May 27 made an official complaint to the Senate, calling on it to institute a full-scale investigation into allegations levied against him and the outcome should be published locally and internationally, and also, that the Ministry of Information must retract its statement against him if the investigation proves him innocent.
Addressing the plenary of the Senate on Tuesday, May 27 with the President of the Senate, Vice President Jeremiah Koung presiding, Senator Snowe reiterated that the charge of treason is no small charge, “because when you are found guilty it is either life imprisonment or death.” According to him, in Liberian when security actors tell you that they have intelligence on you, “than they are ready to implicate you in something that you did not do.” So, therefore he wants a full-scale investigation into the matter.
He said since the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism’s statement against him, he and his family have continued to receive threatening remarks and messages therefore he and his family lives have been threatened and that they are not safe.
The Bomi County Senator then asked the Senate to guarantee his safety and that of his family because he continues to receive calls from security actors regarding the statement the Ministry of Information linked him to.
Snowe emphasized his vulnerability, stating that his life is under the state’s responsibility, especially following a contentious statement from the Ministry of Information that he believes has put him at risk. As a result, he called for security protection due to the threatening messages directed at him and his family.
Senator Edwin Snowe highlighted the personal toll the situation has taken on his family, specifically mentioning the impact on his 90-year-old mother, whose health, he said, has allegedly deteriorated due to the stress of the recent events.
Senator Snowe also held a press conference and reiterated exactly the same things that he told his colleagues in the Senate when he filed his complaint against the Ministry of Information.
It can be recalled Snowe reacted to the Information Ministry’s allegation against him saying, he was deeply concerned and with profound disappointment that he has to respond to the Government of Liberia for falsely attributing to him ‘inflammatory and irresponsible’ remarks intended to undermine and destabilize the Government of Liberia.
“This statement was issued while I am currently on official assignment in the Kingdom of Sweden as part of a mission of the ECOWAS Parliament. The timing and content of this accusation are not only inappropriate, but also reflective of a disturbing and deliberate attempt to damage my reputation and cast aspersions on my integrity as a statesman, representative of the Liberian people and a responsible member of the opposition,” Senator Snowe laments.
He further states: “Let me state, unequivocally and for the record: I CATEGORICALLY REJECT AND CONDEMN THESE ALLEGATIONS AS ENTIRELY BASELESS, MALICIOUS, AND POLITICALLY MOTIVATED. I wish to state, for the record, that at no point have I made any statement that could be interpreted as inciting panic, promoting instability, or threatening the democratic order of our country, neither have I leverage my networks in ECOWAS’ internal institutions or other international organizations to orchestrate destabilization of the Liberian Government.”
The Senator’s statement went on: “The irresponsible and reckless statement issued by the Government of Liberia amounts to nothing less than an implicit accusation of treason, one of the gravest charges under our Constitution that I do not take lightly. Such an accusation is not only wholly unfounded and defamatory but also constitutes a serious affront to the principles of democracy, the rule of law, and the constitutional safeguards that protect all citizens of our Republic.”
“This act by the government further sets a dangerous and unacceptable precedent, one that threatens the very fabric of our democracy and the fundamental rights of every Liberian, particularly those who exercise their legitimate right to speak truth to power. It is increasingly evident that this development forms part of a calculated and malicious smear campaign, designed to discredit, intimidate, and silence me and other critical voices of the opposition in the national discourse.”
Further expressing his disappointment Senator Snowe dirges: “In view of this regrettable development, I have taken the difficult decision to terminate my participation in the ECOWAS Parliament mission and return home. I have formally communicated this matter to the Honorable Liberian Senate, registering my grave concerns over the implications of such unfounded accusations against my person and calling for a full-scale immediate, independent, and comprehensive investigation into this matter.”
He concludes by calling upon the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the African Union (AU), the United Nations (UN), the European Union (EU) and all of Liberia’s bilateral and multilateral partners to closely monitor this development and what he says “appears to be an emerging pattern of political intimidation and persecution.”
The Bomi County lawmaker then reiterates his resolute commitment to the values of democracy, good governance, accountability, and the inalienable right of every Liberian to express themselves freely and without fear of retribution.
Snowe’s ally in the House of Representatives, former House Speaker Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa wrote on his Facebook wall: “The government’s attempt to paraphrase Senator Snowe’s comment, and then criminalize it, undermines our democracy and has a chilling effect on the opposition in a manner unhealthy for our democracy. The Ministry of Information must retract it’s press release.”
MICAT’s Accusation Against the Sentor
It can be recalled the Liberian Government through the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) condemned Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe for alleged statement that the Ministry attributed to him. The Ministry issued its official statement on the purported statement from the Senator on Saturday, May 24, 2025.
But the Senator responded and termed the Ministry’s statement as “false and unfounded.”
Below are the both statements:
“The Government of Liberia condemns recent irresponsible and inflammatory statement made by Bomi County Senator Edwin Snowe, who is also a member of the ECOWAS Parliament, in which he vowed to use his connections at the sub-regional body, ECOWAS, to ensure the failure of the Government of Liberia led by President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr.
Mr. Snowe declared that he would “do everything possible including using his connections in ECOWAS to make the Boakai-led government to fail, even if it means discouraging foreign direct investment to Liberia and making the country ungovernable and unstable until he, Snowe, becomes President of Liberia.”
The Government of Liberia reminds Mr. Snowe and other officials, who may hold similar thought, that no citizen is licensed to undermine his/her own country and government by vowing to use ECOWAS internal institutions or other international organizations to either promote their selfish ambitions or plot destabilization.
The Government of Liberia calls on all sub-regional, regional and international organizations to ensure that such plan by Mr. Snowe and his collaborators to undermine and destabilize the Liberian Government is not actualized.
Liberia continues to remain a champion of peace, security and economic integration within the Mano River Union (MRU), the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), African Union (AU) and the broader international system.
The Government assures the citizens of Liberia that it has the capacity to, at all times, meet its obligations to the Liberian people and will do all it can to succeed, keep the country safe, ensure stability and prevent those wishing to cause chaos from achieving their intentions.
The Government concludes by urging the Liberian people to work continuously with and lend support to their government to meet their needs, and build a prosperous nation.”
Snowe Earlier Response
“I have just come across an unfortunate and deeply troubling statement posted on the official Facebook page of the Ministry of Information, purportedly attributing to me inflammatory and irresponsible remarks allegedly intended to undermine and destabilize the Government of Liberia. While I take steps to verify the authenticity of this publication, I wish to state, in the strongest possible terms, that I categorically reject and condemn any such false and unfounded allegations. Should the statement be confirmed as authentic, I will immediately call for a full, independent, and transparent investigation into these malicious accusations against my person.”
