Monrovia – The shut relationship between President Joseph Boakai’s political advisor, MacDella Cooper, and Home Speaker Richard Koon—significantly their alleged ties to African International Logistics (AGL), the controversial successor of Bolloré Africa Logistics—has raised severe considerations about transparency and integrity on the highest ranges of Liberia’s management.
Observers warn that the rising engagement with AGL, an organization whose successor has a observe file of alleged election interference and transnational corruption, might undermine political stability and taint the administration’s efforts to draw credible overseas funding.
Upon taking workplace, the Boakai-Koung administration vowed to revamp Liberia’s struggling financial system and create a conducive surroundings for buyers. In pursuit of this aim, political advisor MacDella Cooper and Speaker Koon just lately launched into what they described as a mission to discover funding alternatives. Nonetheless, rising scrutiny surrounds their strategy and the entities they’re participating with.
Cooper and Koon are reportedly in talks with AGL, previously Bolloré Africa Logistics—an organization that rebranded following widespread allegations of fraud. AGL was created after the acquisition of Bolloré’s Africa operations by the Mediterranean Delivery Firm (MSC) in December 2022.
In Might, Cooper posted on Fb that she met with Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, to debate commerce and funding alternatives between the 2 international locations.
“Sierra Leone is forward of the sport and has taken a extra aggressive strategy in direction of improvement, particularly with their roads, ports, and agriculture,” she wrote.
AGL additionally shared information of the go to on its official web page, stating:
“A high-powered Liberian delegation, together with lawmakers, Nationwide Port Authority board members, and senior officers, visited us at the moment to conduct a visibility examine and find out about our operations. Led by the Senior Political Adviser to the president of the Republic of Liberia Magdela Cooper, the group obtained an in depth presentation from each the Nation Manger Cpt Fabjanko Kokan and the Basic supervisor Maroun Abi-Aad. The delegation additionally toured key terminal services such because the STS crane, the facility plant, and the workshop. The delegation appreciated the nice and cozy welcome and the chance to see the terminal’s capabilities in particular person.”
Nonetheless, a FrontPage Africa investigation reveals that the go to was greater than only a courtesy name. Sources conversant in the matter allege the first goal was to introduce Speaker Koon to AGL—a rebranded firm whose former house owners are embroiled in severe authorized troubles, together with allegations of corruption and illicit acquisition of port concessions throughout West Africa.
The places of work of the Political Advisor and Speaker Koon are but to reply.
In March, civil society teams from 5 African international locations—Togo, Guinea, Ghana, Ivory Coast, and Cameroon—filed fraud and corruption complaints towards French billionaire Vincent Bolloré and his son. The coalition, Restitution for Africa, accused the Bolloré Group of unlawfully acquiring port rights and laundering proceeds via the sale of its Africa logistics operations.
In response to Reuters, French monetary prosecutors have opened a proper investigation into the matter. The Bolloré Group, which has since rebranded as AGL, has declined to remark via its authorized staff. Regardless of the brand new title, the corporate stays below the identical administration. Capt. Fabjanko Kokan, who previously managed Bolloré Transport, now heads AGL’s regional operations.
Critics say the timing of AGL’s rebranding and MSC’s acquisition seems to be a strategic transfer to protect the corporate from its authorized liabilities—an instance of what some specialists name “company veiling” or “asset shielding.”
Sources inform FPA that the Liberian delegation to Sierra Leone included a number of shut allies and family members of key Unity Get together (UP) Alliance officers, together with lawmakers who performed pivotal roles in Koon’s rise to the speakership.
“As residents, we should query the true motives behind the collaboration between President Boakai’s advisor and Speaker Koon with an organization like AGL. Are they genuinely in search of improvement, or are they pursuing private enrichment on the expense of the Liberian individuals?” one economist requested, talking on situation of anonymity.
With allegations of election interference and monetary misconduct shadowing AGL’s former house owners, requires transparency and accountability are rising louder.
“This exposé ought to function a wake-up name. Liberia remains to be recovering from years of battle fueled by corruption and abuse. We should not enable our leaders to compromise democratic integrity by partnering with exploitative firms,” mentioned one other involved supply.
In the meantime, though officers haven’t introduced any concrete outcomes from the go to, some critics have already begun evaluating this journey to a earlier transfer by prime aides to President Boakai that led to a controversial negotiation with the South Africa-based Guma Group and Chinese language producer SANY Group. That deal concerned the procurement of 285 items of earth-moving gear for highway development and upkeep. Initially reported to be price over $60 million, the deal confronted heavy criticism and was later renegotiated and diminished to $22 million below the route of Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung.
Because the scenario unfolds, media and civil society actors are urged to stay vigilant. The way forward for Liberia, many consider, hinges on a agency dedication to justice, transparency, and moral governance.
