Six years after their first presidential showdown, George Weah and Joseph Boakai come nose to nose once more.
Liberians will vote on November 14 this yr to determine whether or not they are going to return to their former footballing glory underneath the presidency, however its file has been criticized.
He received the final election with greater than 61 p.c of the vote—or reasonably, they most well-liked the veteran regardless of his age. Samuel Cole, an official with the Electoral Fee, stated the Electoral Fee has 15 days to announce the outcomes, however the matter could take much less time.

Prince Johnson, the Kingmaker?
Between the 2 rounds, the 2 camps primarily competed for the assist of the opposite 18 candidates, however none of them reached 3%. Edward Appleton, third place within the first spherical, and two different of the six main candidates referred to as for votes for Boakai.
Lawrence Yale, Liberia director of the Good Governance Community Accountability Lab, stated turnout may be an essential issue. He expects turnout to be decrease than the file on October 10 (78.86%) as a result of the vote is not going to be held concurrently the congressional election.

George Weah has retained his aura as the one African to win the Ballon d’Or, soccer’s most prestigious particular person award. As a consequence of his approachable and peaceable picture, he claimed that his actions benefited training, house electrification, roads and hospital building. He pledged to proceed working for the event of one of many poorest international locations on earth. His critics accuse him of not retaining his phrase. They accuse him of being out of contact with the realities of his fellow residents fighting rising costs and shortages. Based on the World Financial institution, greater than one-fifth of the inhabitants lives on lower than $2.15 a day.

Joseph Boakai, who blames worsening corruption, has promised to develop infrastructure, appeal to buyers and vacationers and enhance the lives of the poorest. He shaped an alliance with native nobles, together with former warlord and senator Prince Johnson, who had supported Weah six years earlier.

Fears of post-election violence
One of many points is the peaceable and regular conduct of the elections and acceptance of the outcomes. In actual fact, the elections had been the primary to be held with out the presence of the United Nations Mission in Liberia, which was established in 2003 (and partially established in 2018) to safeguard the Greater than 250,000 folks died, together with the post-civil struggle, nonetheless recent in reminiscence. The United Nations stated in a latest assertion that the election “is undoubtedly a important step within the consolidation of peace and democracy in Liberia and the area”.

Clashes throughout the marketing campaign left a number of folks lifeless and raised fears of post-election violence. Boakai reported assaults and abuses towards his camp on November 12, together with on November 10 towards a motorcade carrying Prince Johnson and vice presidential candidate Jeremiah Kpan Koung of a gun assault. Seven folks had been reported injured.

Boakai’s camp additionally condemned the irregularities within the first spherical. A lot of worldwide observers welcomed the graceful conduct of the primary spherical of elections in a area the place democracy has been shaken by a collection of coups.

There’s additionally an error message surrounding the marketing campaign. Liberia’s key accomplice, the USA, has warned that it’s exploring the opportunity of proscribing visas to individuals who “commit acts that undermine democracy or are complicit in acts that undermine democracy.”