• Who’s stalling the election?, Source: FrontPage Africa
• UP lawyers end production of witnesses in electoral fraud case, Source: FrontPage Africa
• Liberians’ mixed reaction to US Embassy’s statement on October 10 elections, Source: FrontPage Africa
• President Sirleaf’s son calls those who criticizes his mother as ‘buffoons’, Source: FrontPage Africa
• Human Rights Commission on Costa, Other Issues, Source: FrontPage Africa
• UNMIL donates 11 equipment to Liberia DEA, Source: INSIGHT
• Mystery Shrouds Journalist Micah Yeahwon’s Disappearance, Source: Daily OBSERVER
• 230 Nigerians get United Nations peacekeepers medal, Source: Premium Times
• UP Disagrees With US Position On Runoff Election, Sources: All Africa and Daily OBSERVER
• CDC Commends US Embassy, Sources: All Africa and The New Republic
• Journalist Azango, Albert Porte Honored in New Book On Investigative Journalism in Africa, Sources: All Africa and FrontPage Africa

Who’s stalling the election?, Source: FrontPage Africa

As the election crisis lingers on, FrontPage Africa has reported that many Liberians have said that no single person has the right to stop Liberians from voting their leader warning that the electoral crisis is leading to economic hardship. Whereas, the ruling Unity Party (UP), All Liberian Party, (ALP) and Alternative National Congress (ANC) which filed the case has accused the National Elections Commission (NEC) of being a party and a judge at the same time in the electoral crisis.

UP lawyers end production of witnesses in electoral fraud case, Source: FrontPage Africa

The paper said lawyers of the ruling Unity Party (UP) have rested their evidence in the electoral irregularities case under investigation by the National Elections Commission (NEC). However, on Friday the UP was denied by the NEC hearing officer, Cllr. Muana Ville a request to allow the UP chairman and the party’s vice chairman for inter-party and NEC affairs to take the witness stand and support their evidence that some people voted three times at a center in Montserrado County with different ID cards. Read more

Liberians’ mixed reaction to US Embassy’s statement on October 10 elections, Source: FrontPage Africa

Many Liberians have reacted with mixed reaction to a US Embassy in Monrovia statement that the reported irregularities in the 10 October elections were not sufficient to undermine the integrity of the polls and warned that the country would risk goodwill investment by international partners. In reaction, some Liberians expressed support for the statement and said Liberians cannot be dragging the election issue and holding the country hostage. Another person said the statement was welcoming as the US has always stood with Liberia and continues to do so, while another speaker said the embassy’s statement was timely saying, the longer the election crisis continues it would not be in the interest of the country. Read more

President Sirleaf’s son calls those who criticizes his mother as ‘buffoons’, Source: FrontPage Africa

James Sirleaf, one of the sons of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has termed as ‘buffoons’ people he said wanting to link the president to scandal. Mr. Sirleaf made the comment in a statement issued recently.  Reports, however, said criticisms of the president in the public have increased in recent time which probably prompted the reaction of James. The statement said “failed” politicians are bent on undermining constituted government and the common good of the people.

Human Rights Commission on Costa, Other Issues, Source: FrontPage Africa

The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR) has expressed concern on the hike in prices of goods, especially the country’s staple food, rice; the alleged attack on talk show host Henry Costa’s vehicle and the apparent standoff between the University of Liberia Student Union (ULSU) and the institution’s administration. The INCHR strongly recommends quick investigation and remedies to these rights-based issues because according to the human rights commission, the pursuit of law in good faith is not inimical to the peace but rather the opposite that threatens the peace.

UNMIL donates 11 equipment to Liberia DEA, Source: INSIGHT

The Insight reports that in an effort to fight drug trafficking in Liberia, the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) recently handed over Information Technology (IT) equipment to the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The donation consisted of eight laptops, eight printers, eight modems, and 17 printer cartridges, procured under UNMIL Quick Impact Project (QIP).

“This may just be basic office equipment. But, hopefully, it should support you in your work, particularly in the counties, as you gather intelligence, information, and date that will be fed back to the headquarters, so that you can have a better picture of criminality across Liberia and how you are going to tackle it,” said UNMIL police commissioner, Simon Blatchly while handing over the equipment to the director-general of DEA, Tony Souh. Commissioner Blatchly reassured on UNMIL continued support until the Mission’s closure in March 2018.

Mystery Shrouds Journalist Micah Yeahwon’s Disappearance, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Sembe Micah Yeahwon, a correspondent in Gbarpolu County for the Daily Observer, went missing shortly after the October 10 elections. Yeahwon’s family is still anxiously waiting to hear from him since he left his Gbarma, Gbarpolu County residence on 15 October after casting his vote and covering last month’s elections. Neighbors and family sources said the Daily Observer correspondent visited the polling stations in Gbarma and surrounding communities and was excited to send stories about the events to his employer. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

230 Nigerians get United Nations peacekeepers medal, Source: Premium Times

At least 230 Nigerian peacekeeping troops serving under the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) were awarded the United Nations peacekeepers medal on Monday. The UNMIL, which announced the awards in a statement on Friday, said the peacekeepers were conferred with the UN medals at a ceremony in Monrovia in recognition of their contributions to peace and stability in Liberia. The Special Representative of the Secretary-General, Farid Zarif, presided over the ceremony at Camp Abuja in Monrovia.

The UNMIL said the UN medals were also presented to Staff Officers, Military Observers, and the Pakistani Medical Contingent, PAKMED.

In his remarks, Mr. Zarif said the peacekeepers contributed towards strengthening and consolidating peace and stability in Liberia. “They have brought pride and honor, not just to their contingents, but also to their nations,” Mr. Zarif said. “You have also given meaning to the United Nations services throughout the world by helping nations in distress in order to fight back some of the challenges that may have gone beyond their capacity,” he added. Read more

UP Disagrees With US Position On Runoff Election, Sources: All Africa and Daily OBSERVER

One of the lawyers representing the ruling Unity Party (UP) has openly expressed concern over a statement the US government issued through its Embassy in Monrovia, urging authorities of the National Elections Commission (NEC) to proceed with the runoff elections, despite unresolved allegations of irregularities and fraud.

Arguing for a request demanding that the NEC makes available to the ruling UP all records of the October 10 presidential and legislative elections, which is now at the center of the controversy, Cllr. Benedict Sannoh accused the US government of losing sight of the fact and nature of the party's complaint. Read more

CDC Commends US Embassy, Sources: All Africa and The New Republic

The youth league of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is commending the US Embassy in Monrovia for the issuance of statement expressing explicit confidence in the outcome of the 10 October presidential and legislative elections. Addressing journalists Thursday in Monrovia, the youth league chairman, Jefferson Koijee said the CDC was not surprised of the statement from the American people. According to him, the CDC has repeatedly said the will of the Liberian people must prevail, something he said was clearly demonstrated during the day of the elections as evidenced by the numbers of votes obtained by the party.

Koijee said it has always been the quest of the CDC to see the will of the Liberian people takes center stage through the democratic means and not what others are predicting. The youth league's boss said while they commend the American government position in this matter, Liberia as a sovereign nation must do better to address issue that has the propensity to jeopardize the peace and stability of the country.

"We say thanks to the American embassy for what we have been saying for a long period of time. We need people not to tell us, we have been on this road for 12 years because we know how peace is to us in this country. We should not wait for the American people to speak. The message was clear and powerful on October 10, 2017," Koijee said.

On Wednesday, the US Embassy near Monrovia revealed that it was inspired by 1.5 million Liberians who expressed their commitment to and faith in democracy by voting in the October 10 elections. The Embassy underscores the importance of a peaceful transfer of power to a new democratically-elected president in January, as reflected in Liberia's Constitution. Read more

Journalist Azango, Albert Porte Honored in New Book On Investigative Journalism in Africa, Sources: All Africa and FrontPage Africa

FrontPage Africa reporter Mae Azango and the pioneer of activism in Liberia, the late Albert Porte are among scores of African journalists and campaigners captured in a new book promoting investigative journalism in Africa--"African Muckraking"--launched Thursday at an investigative journalism conference in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Journalist Azango, 45, is mostly famed for her International women's Day 2012 story on female genital cutting (FGC), which among several international awards won her an International Press Freedom Award by the International Committee to Protect Journalist (ICPJ).

Albert Porte, who died in 1986 at 80, was the first Liberian campaigner to stand up to a Liberian government, decrying corruption, and misuse of power. Famous for carrying along with him a toothbrush and pillow with him wherever he went -- anticipating imprisonment at any time -- is famous for his pamphlets on social justice and democracy. Read more