Monrovia — The Executive Mansion of Liberia appears to be tightlipped and indecisive over accusation linking two senior officials of the Unity Party-led government of President Joseph Boakai to alleged bigamy.
The two officials include: Senior Political Advisor to the President and Youth and Sports Development Ambassador-At-Large MacDella Cooper and her husband Alioune Kebe.
Kebe, who is a former Senegalese soccer player, reportedly married to Madam Cooper traditionally in 2019, but a lady identified as Sajo Juwara, based in France, has been claiming and accusing Madam Cooper of allegedly snatching away her husband.
In a letter of complaint dated May 22, 2024 and addressed to President Boakai, Madam Juwara claimed that her alleged husband Kebe failed to legally divorce her, but surreptitiously got married to Madam Cooper whom she considers as “big sister.”
“I come seeking your intervention regarding two senior members of your government: Macdella Cooper and Alioune Kebe. Please consider my communication as a follow-up on my exchange with your Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, pertaining to the involvement of these two in bigamy,” Madam Juwara’s letter to President Boakai.
She recalled that on January 30, 2024, she informed Minister Grigsby on this matter .
“Ms. Macdella Cooper, whom I considered my own big sister because she frequented my family for 18 years (since 2006), got married to my husband, Alioune Kebe when he is yet to legally divorce me. My husband and I have been married for over 9 years, since May 8, 2015 and we have an eight years old son. The latter asks me every time the opportunity arises where his father is, leaving me speechless.”
Madam Juwara noted that it is saddened that though numerous discussions were held with Minister Grigsby on the matter, (which he assured could be brought to the Liberian leader’s attention), she saw the appointments of Macdella Cooper and Alioune Kebe into high-level positions in government.
She noted that this act by the two which has been reported to several in and out of government including Senators Nyonblee Kangar Lawrence, Abraham Darius Dillon, Amara Konneh, Stanton Witherspoon, Deputy Minister Gabriel H. Salee, Representative Emmanuel Dahn, has completely broken her family and left them in tatters.
Previous case won
“For your information Mr. President, I filed a complaint against Alioune Kebe at the Paris Judicial Court for family abandonment and I won my case on March 1, 2022. He was ordered to pay alimony which he never started and has therefore still not respected this judgment. These two senior members of your government’s open involvement in bigamy and appointment as husband and wife, coupled with your decades of public experience as well as your role as a Deacon in the Baptist Church would not be in accordance with your family values I surmise.”
“I pray and remain hopeful that you intervene in this matter as well as set a precedent that will see any recurrence of such in your government. I remain at your disposal. Please accept your Excellency the assurances of my highest and most respectful regards.”
Kebe’s response
In a telephone interview with FrontPage Africa on Monday, June 3, Mr. Kebe challenged Madam Juwara to disclose her marriage certificate with him.
He noted that the video and photos showing him and his ex-partner wearing similar attire and being portrayed by media institutions and others on the social media and various online platforms were taken at the time they were “making a religious wedding in Banjul, Gambia”, with a plan to get wedded in Paris, France, but some unwanted habits of his ex-partner prompted him from going further with the relationship
He named the unwanted habits as “drinking and smoking.”
Ambassador Kebe alleged that though he pleaded with his ex-partner to desist, she has reneged on doing so.
He claimed that even if Madam Juwara was his wife and he intends to marry additional wives in keeping with his religion, he has the right to divorce her and anyone at any time as a man.
Ambassador Kebe said it has been more than 10 years since he ended the relationship with Madam Juwara, noting that the accusation has a political undertone.
“It’s crazy for someone to just come to say I’m the legal wife. If she comes and tells you that, just ask her where the certificate of marriage is because when you are married, you are supposed to have a marriage certificate. Even if she was my wife, if I don’t want to stay with anyone, I can divorce and I never had a certificate right with her.”
He pointed out that following his separation with Juwara, he got married to Madam Cooper about five years ago.
“Since 2019 (MaCdella and I) have been together. How come she will say something that is not true? Just tell her to show the marriage certificate. She (Sajo) is not my wife. Anybody has the right to divorce or do whatever they want in their life. She doesn’t have the right to do this.”
When quizzed what was the relationship between Sajo and MaCdella prior to his marriage to her, Ambassador Kebe said “ask them” and declined to comment further.
But FrontPage Africa has gathered that Madam Juwara and Cooper were best friends. Photos in the possession of FrontPageAfrica show the pair running a campaign for former Liberian President George Manneh Weah in 2011and in a joyous mood at other gatherings.
They also visited one another in the United States, Senegal and France respectively, pictures have shown.
Ambassador Kebe maintained that his ex-partner was previously accusing Madam Cooper of encouraging her to quit the relationship she had with him.
However, he observed that Madam Juwara has allegedly somersaulted by now claiming to be his legally wedded wife.
“The thing is very simple; if she’s saying she’s my legal wife, she has to prove it. She’s not my wife.”
Ambassador Kebe wondered while the accusation is trailing in the Liberian media, adding that, “in Senegal, she (Sajo) has no credit; she tried there and no one could listen to her because it’s nonsense.”
He, however, threatened to file a lawsuit against Madam Juwara for allegedly injuring his character. He said though he has quitted the relationship with Madam Juwara, she (Sajo) continues to “force” him to be her husband.
Ambassador Kebe recalled that four months after ending the relationship with Madam Juwara, she claimed to be impregnated by him.
In keeping with his Islamic faith, he noted that he accepted the pregnancy and reneged on requesting for a DNA test on the child.
Ambassador Kebe could neither deny nor confirm supporting Madam Juwara and his child, but clarified that “I tried to see my child and have peace” whenever he visits France.
“I don’t understand why she (Sajo) did that; I am not that kind of person. The last time I was in Paris, I tried to talk to her to say what you did to me is trying to destroy people’s lives. We have a child-just think about his future and your life. We have not been together for almost nine years; you have your life and I have my life. Before you do anything, you have to think about your child.”
He said though he quitted the relationship with Madam Juwara about nine years ago, she continues to portray herself as his wife who does not have a document.
Boakai is aware
Ambassador Kebe pointed out that despite the accusation against him and his wife MaCdella, he remains prepared and committed to helping President Boakai and his government to move the country forward.
He further disclosed that President Boakai is currently aware of the accusation levied against him and Madam Cooper by his ex-partner.
“The President called me and I talked to him. He said ‘my son, what do I see here? I said she’s not my wife. And he said ‘she’s not your wife? I said, no. ” He said as a Muslim I was thinking she has the right to do this and I said, “no she is not my wife.”
He said though he does not want to go further with his conversation with the Liberian leader, he can confirm that he has already spoken to him on the matter.
He emphasized that he was touched by the humanitarian gestures of Madam Cooper when he came to Liberia in 2009 and as such, she remains his one and only legally wedded wife.
“What she’s doing to me, I will not do to her. You know what, we as humans are not perfect; I will not do it. I am a Muslim; I have the right to marry a different wife or two, three, four wives. But I will not do that.”
MaCdella throwing jibes
When news of the alleged bigamy involving the two top government officials broke out early this week, Madam Cooper took to her instagram page to throw jibes at her political opponents and critics.
