Movement for Economic Empowerment

MOVEE was certified by the National Elections Commission (NEC) on September 24, 2015.{{cite web|url=https://necliberia.org/others.php?e49c7921cb156014099756961908d03f94e3584c=Njc2|title=

NEC Certificates MOVEE and NLP As New Political Parties|publisher=National Elections Commission|date=2015|access-date=April 26, 2024}} In September 2016, six founding members of MOVEE defected to the Alternative National Congress. They claimed to be members of an organ of the party known as the Elders Council. Among reasons cited for leaving were a lack of policy from MOVEE, as well as an allegation that the party was being run in an unconstitutional manner.{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/2016news/no-party-policy-movee-executives-deflect-to-alternative-national-congress/|title='No Party Policy'- MOVEE Executives Deflect to Alternative National Congress|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=August 31, 2016|access-date=April 26, 2024}} The vice chairman of MOVEE, Robert Sammy, responded, explaining there was no Elders Council, and refuted claims of unconstitutionality.{{cite web|first= Edwin G. Jr.|last=Genoway|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/2016news/movee-describes-resigned-partisans-as-political-lunatics-neophytes/|title=MOVEE Describes Resigned Partisans As Political Lunatics, Neophytes|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=September 5, 2016|access-date=April 26, 2024}}

In August 2016, MOVEE along with 11 other opposition political parties, signed a communique in Ganta to work together against the ruling Unity Party (UP) in the 2017 general election.{{cite web|first=Henry|last=Karmo|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberian-opposition-parties-gather-in-historic-city-seeking-collaboration-to-unseat-ruling-party/|title=Liberia Opposition Resolve to Collaborate for 2017 Election Victory|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=September 17, 2016|access-date=April 26, 2024}} In the 2017, J. Mills Jones contested the presidency with MOVEE. He was a former executive at the International Monetary Fund from Sinoe County who had resigned as governor of the Central Bank of Liberia in March 2016 to run.{{cite web|first=Dagbayonoh Kiah II|last=Nyanfore|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/opinion/liberian-election-2017-preliminary-observations-and-advice/|title=Liberian Election 2017: Preliminary Observations and Advice|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=January 23, 2017|access-date=April 26, 2024}}{{cite web|first=Edwin G.|last=Genoway|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/dr-mills-jones-will-contest-at-all-cost-political-party/|title=Dr. Mills Jones Will Contest At All Cost – Political Party|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=March 7, 2017|access-date=April 26, 2024}} In March 2017, a ruling by the Supreme Court of Liberia upheld a 2014 law, the National Code of Conduct, which had potential effects on the eligibility of Jones for the presidency. The law prevented presidential appointees from engaging in political activities. Specifically, canvassing votes for ones own campaign could only be done if the appointee resigned two years before the election in question.{{cite web|first=Ibrahim Al-bakri|last=Nyei|url=https://www.africaresearchinstitute.org/newsite/blog/code-conduct-act-liberias-2017-election/|title=The Code of Conduct Act and Liberia’s 2017 election|publisher=African Research Institute|date=May 7, 2017|access-date=April 26, 2024}} In response, MOVEE stated that Jones would be running regardless of the implications of the ruling. The NEC, in an attempt to abide by the court's ruling, initially prevented 24 candidates from running, including Jones, though later it would later overturn most of the rejections, again including Jones'.{{cite web|url=https://www.cartercenter.org/resources/pdfs/news/peace_publications/election_reports/liberia2017-finalrpt.pdf|title=National Elections in Liberia, Fall 2017|publisher=Carter Center|date=2017|pages=48-49, 217|accessdate=April 26, 2024}}

In June 2017, Jones named Samuel B. Reeves Jr., pastor of Providence Baptist Church, as his running mate.{{cite web|first=Augustine|last=Tweh|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/he-has-the-ability-dr-mills-jones-names-rev-dr-sam-reeves-his-vp-pick/|title='He Has The Ability': Mills Jones Names Rev. Sam Reeves As VP Pick|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=June 27, 2017|access-date=April 26, 2024}} The MOVEE presidential ticket received 12,854 votes, 0.8% of the total. Reeves resigned as vice standard bearer of MOVEE after the election.{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/rev-samuel-reeves-relinquishes-vice-standard-bearer-post-at-movee/|title=Rev. Samuel Reeves Relinquishes Vice Standard Bearer Post at MOVEE|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=October 29, 2017|access-date=April 26, 2024}} MOVEE blamed the Code of Conduct debacle for its poor showing and had questioned the integrity of the election.{{cite web|first=Edwin G. Jr.|last=Genoway|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/movee-blames-code-of-conduct-for-mills-jones-dismal-performance-in-2017-elections/|title=MOVEE Blames Code of Conduct For Mills Jones Dismal Performance in 2017 Elections|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=October 24, 2017|access-date=April 26, 2024}} In the subsequent run-off election, MOVEE supported the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-amb-kemayah-ascends-to-political-leader-as-dan-saryee-becomes-chairman-of-movee/|title=Liberia: Amb. Kemayah Ascends to Political Leader as Dan Saryee Becomes Chairman of MOVEE|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=April 6, 2020|access-date=April 26, 2024}} In the 2017 House of Representatives elections, MOVEE ran 62 candidates. Francis Saywon Young was elected in River Gee County's 2nd House district.{{cite web|url=https://necliberia.org/results/representative.php?&7d5f44532cbfc489b8db9e12e44eb820=MQ%3D%3D|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220528103044/https://necliberia.org/results/representative.php?&7d5f44532cbfc489b8db9e12e44eb820=MQ%3D%3D|title=2017 HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTION RESULTS|publisher=National Elections Commission|date=2017|archive-date=May 28, 2022|accessdate=April 26, 2024}} In December 2017, the party's National Executive Committee suspended Jones indefinitely following an allegation of burglary and assault.{{cite web|first= Edwin G. Jr.|last=Genoway|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/movee-suspends-dr-mills-jones-after-tussle-over-party-properties/|title=MOVEE Suspends Dr. Mills Jones After Tussle Over Party Properties|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=December 5, 2017|access-date=April 26, 2024}} Shortly after, Jones resigned from the party.{{cite web|first= Edwin G. Jr.|last=Genoway|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/mills-jones-resigns-from-movement-for-economic-empowerment/|title=Mills Jones Resigns From Movement For Economic Empowerment|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=December 15, 2017|access-date=April 26, 2024}}

In early 2020, a convention was to be held to replace party officers, however, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the party's functioning. The National Executive Committee in April passed a resolution making United Nations ambassador Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah Sr., who had served as the party's chairman since March 2016, its political leader, and making Dan Saryee its chairman. In May 2020, MOVEE, along with 10 other political parties, signed a document to become part of the Rainbow Alliance (RA), with the goal of opposing the CDC in the 2023 election.{{cite web|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-11-political-parties-form-rainbow-alliance-through-collaboration/|title=Liberia: 11 Political Parties Form 'Rainbow Alliance' through Collaboration|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=May 23, 2020|access-date=April 26, 2024}} The RA was certified by the NEC on August 31, 2020, with MOVEE as one of its 7 founding parties.{{cite web|url=https://necliberia.org/others.php?e49c7921cb156014099756961908d03f94e3584c=MTExOA%3D%3D|title=

NEC Certificates Rainbow Alliance to Participate in the Ongoing Elections|publisher=National Elections Commission|date=2020|access-date=April 26, 2024}}

By September 2020, Kemayah had been appointed as foreign minister by President George Weah of the CDC.{{cite web|first=Lennart|last=Dodoo|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-11-political-parties-form-rainbow-alliance-through-collaboration/|title=Liberia: National Traditional Council Women Hail Pres. Weah for Amb. Kemayah’s Preferment as Foreign Minister|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=September 21, 2020|access-date=April 26, 2024}} Before September 2022, Kemayah had been removed from the National Executive Committee. It was felt that his serving as ambassador to the UN prevented him from doing his duties in the role. He was elected as political leader again in September 2022.{{cite web|first= Edwin G. Jr.|last=Genoway|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/movee-elects-foreign-minister-kemayah-as-political-leader/|title=MOVEE Elects Foreign Minister Kemayah as Political Leader|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=September 20, 2022|access-date=April 26, 2024}}

MOVEE left the RA in October 2022.{{cite web|first=Lewis S.|last=Teh|url=https://thenewdawnliberia.com/movee-leaves-rainbow-alliance/|title= MOVEE leaves Rainbow Alliance |publisher=The New Dawn Liberia|date=October 14, 2022|access-date=April 26, 2024}} In February 2023, MOVEE signed a resolution to support President Weah's bid for a second term in the 2023 election. The resolution also declared MOVEE's intent of joining the CDC.{{cite web|first=Obediah|last=Johnson|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-movee-signs-resolution-to-support-the-second-term-bid-of-pres-weah-resolves-committee-to-join-cdc/|title=Liberia: MOVEE Signs Resolution To Support The Second Term Bid of Pres. Weah; Resolves Committee To Join CDC|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=February 27, 2023|access-date=April 26, 2024}} In March 2023, MOVEE, along with 5 other political parties, signed a resolution officially joining the CDC.{{cite web|first=J. H. Webster|last=Clayeh|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/news/liberia-six-opposition-parties-flip-over-to-ruling-cdc/|title=Liberia: Six Opposition Parties Flip Over To Ruling CDC|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=March 13, 2023|access-date=April 26, 2024}} In September 2023, football player and couch James Debbah joined MOVEE.{{cite web|first=Obediah|last=Johnson|url=https://frontpageafricaonline.com/politics/liberia-debba-joins-movee-vows-to-ensure-pres-weahs-re-election/|title=Liberia: Debba Joins MOVEE; Vows to Ensure Pres. Weah's Re-election|publisher=FrontPage Africa|date=September 4, 2023|access-date=April 26, 2024}}

{{reflist}}

{{Liberian political parties}}

Category:Political parties in Liberia

Category:Political parties established in 2015

Category:2015 establishments in Liberia