- EU Predicts Difficult Elections, Source: New DEMOCRAT
- To Support Run-off: 4 Opposition Parties Sign MOU, Source: The INQUIRER
- Cummings, Cooper and Jones Crisscross Views at Last Presidential Debate, Source: FrontPage Africa
- Jewel Taylor Defends Weah, Source: The INQUIRER
- Former Nimba Superintendent Pledges Support to Joe Boakai, Source: FrontPage Africa
- Police Launch Investigation into Mysterious Disappearance of 34-yr-old Man, Source: FrontPage Africa
- Sweden, Mercy Corps sign USD5.8M agreement, Source: The New Dawn
- “America’s Leadership in the World is Needed” - Says President Sirleaf, Source: Executive Mansion News
- EU Chief Observer Underlines Mission Objective for October Elections, Source: The Bush Chicken
- Local Pollster Completes Fourth Voters’ Perception Survey, Source: The Bush Chicken
- Sierra Leone’s War Victims Plan to sue Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Source: GNN Liberia
LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS
EU Predicts Difficult Elections, Source: New DEMOCRAT
The EU Observation Mission in Liberia says it is concerned and worried about the condition of the October 2017 Presidential and Legislative Elections especially the bad roads situation that could hamper voting process and make the elections very difficult within rural parts of the country. According to the deputy chief observer, Alessandro Parziale, they have been advised of the road conditions which are challenging but the mission is confident their observers will do all it can in the midst of those challenges to monitor the elections.
On her part, chief observer Maria Arena re-echoed that the upcoming elections are a crucial test for Liberia’s democratic process. “A peaceful transition from one elected president to another is important not only for Liberia but also an example for the region,” Ms. Arena said.
To Support Run-off: 4 Opposition Parties Sign MOU, Source: The INQUIRER
Four opposition political parties have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to ensure victory for an opposition bloc in the upcoming elections in October. The agreement was entered into in July this year by Alexander Cummings’ Alternative National Congress (ANC), Charles Brumskine’s Liberty Party (LP), George Weah’s Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), and Prince Johnson of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR).
Under the agreement, in an event a signatory to the MOU qualifies for a run-off presidential election against the ruling Unity Party, the other signatories (political parties) to the agreement will support the opposition qualifier in all manners and forms that are legal and expedient.
Cummings, Cooper and Jones Crisscross Views at Last Presidential Debate, Source: FrontPage Africa
The second and final presidential debate organized by the Deepening Democracy Coalition (DCC) took place Tuesday in the Paynesville, outside Monrovia with three of the seven candidates invited appearing, including Alexander Cummings of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), MacDella Cooper of the Liberia Restoration Party (LRP), and J. Mills Jones of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE). Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party (UP), Charles Brumskine of the Liberty Party (LP), George Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), and Benoni Urey of the All Liberian Party (ALP) were absent for different reasons.
Cummings, Cooper, and Jones discussed the economy with emphasis on poverty alleviation, youth empowerment with emphasis on education and job creation; and Land Rights in the context of natural resource management and gender empowerment.
Jewel Taylor Defends Weah, Source: The INQUIRER
The vice presidential candidate of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) has defended the coalition’s presidential candidate, Senator George Weah saying he is qualified and has the ability to lead the country as there is no school for the presidency. Senator Jewel Howard Taylor speaking to a local radio station Tuesday said all of those who ascended to the presidency were not presidents before but many of them performed while serving in the position.
Former Nimba Superintendent Pledges Support to Joe Boakai, Source: FrontPage Africa
This paper reports that a key figure of the opposition Liberty Party (LP), former Nimba County superintendent Edith Gongloe Weh has pledged her support to Vice President Joseph Boakai of the ruling Unity Party. Making the disclosure on a local radio, Mrs. Weh said although she is supporting Mr. Boakai, she is still a member of the opposition LP.
Police Launch Investigation into Mysterious Disappearance of 34-yr-old Man, Source: FrontPage Africa
Police in Monrovia have launched a search for 34-year-old McArthur Jinlack, a resident of 18th Street Sinkor who went missing last Wednesday, 20 September 2017 in the Virginia Community, outside Monrovia. According to Nanoon Jinlack, wife of the missing man, her husband left their home and traveled to the Robert’s International Airport (RIA) in Margibi County to receive his uncle Barbie Keith Jinlack who was traveling from London to Liberia.
In the wake of the mysterious disappearance of her husband, Nanoon says that she believes he was kidnapped as she called on the Liberia National Police to intensify their investigation into the matter.
Sweden, Mercy Corps sign USD5.8M agreement, Source: The New Dawn
The Swedish Embassy in Liberia and Mercy Corps Tuesday signed an agreement of about USD5.8 million to empower the young people of Liberia through a program which comes in phase three of Promoting Sustainable Partnerships for Economic Transformation (Prospects). Mercy Corps country director Douglas Cooper and Swedish Embassy charge d’affaires Elisabeth Harleman signed for their respective institutions.
Ms. Harleman said her Embassy has taken a decision to support the program with 46 million Swedish Kronor or about USD5.8 million. She reveals that the aims of the support are to contribute to increased youth employment, work to improve the skills and confidence of 16,500 youth to seek economic opportunities and provide 1,302 young men and women on-the-job training and access to employment information to improve their employment chances.
“America’s Leadership in the World is Needed” - Says President Sirleaf, Source: Executive Mansion News
In her final major speech at the United States Capitol in Washington, President Ellen Johnson says America’s leadership is needed today, more than ever as the world faces new challenges.
According to a dispatch from Washington, President Sirleaf made the call for a more assertive U.S. engagement in global affairs when she delivered a keynote address at the U. S. Capitol Congressional Visitor Center Auditorium in Washington on Monday, September 25, 2017.
“America’s leadership is needed today, more than ever as the world faces new challenges, including transnational threats, rogue nations equipped with the most sophisticated weapons, millions of stateless families fleeing their homelands in search of security and economic opportunity, and our planet screaming for us to protect it.”
Punctuated by rounds of applause, President Sirleaf said, “My friends, do not let the leadership void in our changing world be filled by the disruptors. The dream of America is alive in the hearts of all people who strive for freedom and for a better life for their families. Continue to be a champion.”
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA
EU Chief Observer Underlines Mission Objective for October Elections, Source: The Bush Chicken
The Chief Observer for the European Union Elections Observer Mission has underlined the objective of the mission’s work in the pending presidential and representative elections in the country. A group of 20 long-term observers was recently deployed to different parts of the country to follow the electoral preparations and campaigns.
Addressing a news conference on Friday in Monrovia, Maria Arena, who is also a member of the European Parliament, said the EU will observe the pre-election phase, and on the day of the polls. She said the team will stay in the country until the completion of a comprehensive assessment of the electoral process, including recommendations for future elections.
“We keep to our mandate of non-interference and neutrality. Our mission is here to contribute to impartial and objective assessments to a democratic transition in Liberia,” she said.
Local Pollster Completes Fourth Voters’ Perception Survey, Source: The Bush Chicken
The local pollster, Liberia Holding Consortium has released its fourth report on the perception of voters for the pending October 10 elections.
According to the report, a total of 977 respondents participated in the survey, representing 35 population centers in all 15 counties. The survey was processed August 25 to September 5, 2017, and had a margin of error of three percent.
Unity Party’s presidential candidate, Joseph Boakai took the lead with 28.2 percent of the total samples, followed by George Weah of the Congress for Democratic Change with 27.73 percent. Charles Brumskine of Liberty Party acquired 14.4 percent of the samples, followed by others, including Prince Johnson of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction, Mills Jones of the Movement for Economic Empowerment and All Liberian Party’s Benoni Urey. The report revealed respondents’ choice of president varied with select reflections from each county.
Sierra Leone’s War Victims Plan to sue Liberia’s President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Source: GNN Liberia
Victims of the Sierra Leonean war have condemned outgoing Liberian president Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as “wicked, destructive and evil,” warning that they are planning to sue the outgoing Liberian leader for her role in organizing the twin rebel organizations that destroyed their lives and country.
The victims say they are ready to sue President Sirleaf at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the African Union Court and the ECOWAS Court. The group says they are asking for pro bono international lawyers to help them pursue their case against the outgoing Liberian president and the deposed president of Burkina Faso so that they can be compensated to live an affordable life. According to the group’s leadership, they are seeking $20 million dollars from both President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and former Burkina Faso’s president Blaise Compaoré.
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