Bismarck Kuyon

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Bismarck Normu Kuyon (September 15, 1939 – February 12, 2014) was a Liberian politician and educator. He served as a member of the House of Representatives from Bong County in the 1970s and returned to politics during Liberia’s civil war. In 1993, he was chosen to head the Liberian National Transitional Government (LNTG) but his nomination was withdrawn before the body was installed.

Kuyon was born in Gbarnga, Liberia, and belonged to the Kpelle people. He studied agriculture at Cuttington University College (B.Sc., 1962) and earned an M.Sc. in General Science from Iowa State University (1965). He worked as an agricultural extension agent (1962–1963) and as Director of Aquaculture at the Ministry of Agriculture (1965–1968). He then served as principal of Tubman Elementary and Junior High School (1968–1975). He studied law through apprenticeship and was admitted to the bar in 1971.

In 1975, Kuyon was elected to the House of Representatives from Bong County and became chairman of the Education Committee. He also led the Bong County Cooperative and was a member of the Deshield Commission on National Unity, which reviewed symbols like the flag, anthem, motto, and constitution for inclusiveness. In the 1980s he acted as President of the College of West Africa and later joined its Board of Trustees. He worked with Peace Corps programs in Liberia and served on the boards of Cuttington University and the College of West Africa.

Kuyon re-entered politics in 1990 as a member of the Interim Legislative Assembly under the IGNU during the First Liberian Civil War and became its speaker. On August 16, 1993, after the Cotonou Peace Accord, factions selected him as chairman of the Council of State to lead the LNTG until elections could be held, but he was replaced before the government was installed due to disagreements with IGNU President Amos Sawyer on disarmament. He was succeeded by Philip A. Z. Banks III on November 13, 1993.

In 1997 Kuyon was part of the Unity Party. He founded the Bong County Emergency Organization and was active in the Methodist church as lay-leader emeritus. He received the Humane Order of African Redemption, Knight Great Band. Kuyon died in 2014 and was buried in Gbarnga.