30 October 2017

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

Citing 'Direct Interference' By Liberian President, Ruling Party Calls for Dissolution of Elections Commission, Sources: All Africa, Daily OBSERVER, FrontPage Africa, and The NEWS

The ruling Unity Party (UP) has accused President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of directly interfering in the ongoing presidential and legislative elections. Addressing a major news conference Sunday, the UP chairman, Wilmot Paye told a jam-packed room of reporters and international stakeholders including Carter Center, National Democratic Institute, and others that the magnitude of the allegations of election irregularities is alarming.

"Before the polls--and throughout the campaigning period---we raised alarm bells about what was becoming direct interference with the electoral process by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who any reasonable mind would have thought should by now be preoccupied with allowing a genuine transitional process, the first since 1944, when Edwin James Barclay stepped down for William Tubman, although Tubman himself would later cling onto political power for nearly three decades," Mr. Paye said.

Delivering a joint statement on behalf of three major political parties - the governing UP, All Liberian Party (ALP), and the Liberty Party (LP), Mr. Paye said the three political parties, in unequivocal terms, have been drawing the attention of Liberians and the world to several issues of anomalies about the 10 October 2017 elections. Read more

Liberia's Ruling Unity Party Joins Protest of Elections Results - Runoff Participation in the Air, Sources: All Africa and FrontPage Africa

The ruling Unity Party (UP) is reportedly considering pulling itself out of contention from the November 7 runoff presidential elections, FrontPage Africa has learned. Multiple sources have confirmed to FrontPage Africa that the UP which has governed the post-war nation for the past 12 years officially filed a complaint titled "Intervention" in the Liberty Party (LP) Case, Saturday.

The LP already has a case before the Supreme Court citing several irregularities including the late opening of polls and the denial of thousands of Liberians from exercising their voting rights.

The party said: "Pursuant to Articles 77(b) and 80(c) of the Constitution, Section 4.8(2) of the enabling Elections Law, Article 6 of the Regulation on Polling and Counting provide that voting shall commence at 8:00 a.m. and close at 6 p.m., provided that the last person in queue at 6:00 p.m. shall be permitted to vote. The NEC failed to adhere to the said Regulation and in many instances the polls were opened late, and in some cases, as late as 3:00 p.m., clearly to the detriment of the registered voters, many of them members of Liberty Party, who had shown up to exercise their constitutional right and political franchise. Read more

Seeking Halt to Runoff Elections – Liberty Party Prays Supreme Court to Issue Writ of Prohibition, Sources: Daily OBSERVER, FrontPage Africa, and The NEWS

The opposition Liberty Party (LP) has requested the Supreme Court to issue a writ of prohibition against the National Elections Commission (NEC) to halt the November 7 runoff election.  The petition outlines that the 10 October elections were marred by gross irregularities and fraud, and is calling for a re-election.

The LP said the re-run is in line with Article 83(c) of the Liberian Constitution which states: "Any party or candidate who complains about the manner in which the elections were conducted or who challenges the results thereof shall have the right to file a complaint with the Elections Commission. Such complaint must be filed not later than seven days after the announcement of the results of the elections”.

The LP also referenced Section 6.1 of the Elections Law of Liberia which states: “Any political party or candidate who has justifiable reasons to believe that the elections were not impartially conducted and not in keeping with the Elections Law, which resulted in his defeat or the defeat of a candidate shall have the right to file a complaint with the Commission; such complaint must be filed not later than 7 days after the announcement of the results of the elections”.

The party’s standard bearer, Cllr. Charles Brumskine says the party has submitted evidence to the NEC to back up its claims of elections irregularities. Read more

“Time for UP-led Government to Be Retired” – Weah, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that the standard bearer of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR), Senator Prince Johnson and the standard bearer of the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Senator George Weah were given a stunning reception in Ganta on Friday a day after the Nimba Senator endorsed Senator Weah for the November 7 runoff presidential election.

Senator Johnson later told his supporters to vote for the CDC to bring change to the country. He said the days of massive exploitation of “our resources and transferring of corrupt officials from one ministry to another are over.” The MDR standard bearer added,  “The time for unaccountable stewardship by officials of government is over. It is time to rebuild and settle our differences through reconciliation. We must reconcile and unite ourselves to move the country to the greater height and to economic growth, stability, and prosperity.” Read more

CDC Youth Wing Chair Speaks Against Rumors of Interim Government, Source: FrontPage Africa

The main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), through its national youth chairman, Jefferson Koijee, has alarmed over what it calls “strange happenings,” creeping into the Liberian 2017 political arena. Mr.  Koijee Saturday sounded the alarm over rumors of plans by the ruling Unity Party (UP) and the opposition Liberty Party (LP) to disrupt the pending runoff process aimed at establishing an interim government.

The CDC youth wing chairman stated that they have gathered unconfirmed pieces of information, which suggest that the governing UP is now backing LP on its court proceedings in order to stall the runoff process. “We think our peace and stability should not be threatened. Reliable information in our domain is that Representative Edwin Snowe and others are forming an alliance with the Liberty Party for an interim government,” Koijee said. But he vowed that the plan of the two political parties will be resisted by them. Read more

Carter Center Encourages Liberian Political Parties to Continue to Use Existing Electoral Dispute-Resolution Mechanisms, Source: FrontPage Africa

As Liberia prepares for a presidential runoff election, The Carter Center (TCC) has acknowledged the historic opportunity for the country to proceed with a peaceful transition of power from one democratically elected president to another.

The Center says it understands that some parties are challenging the election, and we are glad that today they have reiterated their commitment to using the appropriate legal dispute-resolution procedures provided in Liberian law. Complaints filed by these parties remain under consideration by the National Election Commission (NEC).

TCC’s election observation mission has been observing the proceedings and will continue to follow the process. The Center encourages all political parties to continue to use the existing electoral dispute-resolution mechanisms. Read more

Rev. Dr. Reeves Relinquishes Vice Standard Bearer Post at MOVEE, Sources: FrontPage Africa and The NEWS

Top Baptist preacher, Rev. Dr. Samuel Reeves, Jr. has relinquished his post as vice standard bearer of the Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) after the National Elections Commission (NEC) released the outcome of the October 10 elections. Rev. Dr. Reeves has attributed his decision to relinquish his post to the outcome of the elections and has returned to his church after serving his three months’ vacation, which enable him to partner as second to MOVEE’s standard bearer Dr. J. Mills Jones. Read more

Dispelling Rumors: Ngafuan Remains UP Campaign Manager, Source: FrontPage Africa

The national campaign manager of the ruling Unity Party (UP), Mr. Augustine Ngafuan, has told opposition members and even some from his own party, who are spreading falsehood that he is no longer in charge of the campaign that they are “boldface liars” and that he remains the national campaign manager, who will ensure victory for the UP on November 7, the date for the runoff between the governing party and the main opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).

Addressing reporters’ concerns on the present political situations and internal party politics Friday, Mr. Ngafuan said he has been busied preparing and implementing strategies that will ensure his party wins the runoff if it is allowed to go ahead by the Supreme Court that is said to be looking into election complaints filed by the Liberty Party. Read more

Liberia Launches National Biometric ID System Today, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Liberian government through the National Identification Registry (NIR) will today Monday officially launch and dedicate Liberia’s National Biometric Identification System (NBIS) at the registry’s headquarters in Monrovia.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who is expected to cut the ribbon to the building, will also enroll into the system and receive the first national biometric identification card. Senior government officials, diplomats, and other key stakeholders are expected to attend the program.

This historic event, according to the NIR executive director, J. Tiah Nagbe, will commence the issuance of modern identification cards to citizens and residents, “setting the stage for a transformative program that will change the way we do government and private businesses in Liberia.” Mr. Nagbe said the ID system will complement the country’s development efforts in several areas, including national security, immigration, elections, and financial services.

The NIR executive director further said the mass enrollment of citizens and residents is expected to kick-off shortly after the official launch and will take place in eleven enrollment centers across the country. Read more

2-Day YMA Journalism Training Targets Youth Recruits, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Over 25 youth from five institutions including the YMCA, St. Michael High School, Muslim Congress High School, Bethesda High School, and the William V. S. Tubman High School participated in a two-day journalism training last weekend. The training was organized by the Youth Media Action (YMA).

Speaking at the closing program, the president of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL), Charles Coffey, said the government and society must provide an environment that would continue to enable Liberians, especially journalists, the opportunity to express and broadcast their opinions without any hindrance. Mr. Coffey said Liberians must guarantee freedom of expression with responsibility so that no citizen or journalist should be a victim for expressing his or her opinion during or after the elections.

In this critical period in Liberia it is important for the government to provide security for media practitioners who are at risk for executing their duties, the PUL president said. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Liberia's ruling party protests presidential poll result, Sources: Arab News, Eyewitness News, GNN Liberia, Mail Online, Reuters, VOA News, and Xinhua

Liberia's governing party on Sunday launched a formal protest against the results officially released for the first round of voting in this month's presidential election in which its candidate finished runner-up.

The governing Unity Party accused President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who became Africa's first female president on its platform, of meddling in the electoral process and favoring the opposition party.

The governing party's chairman, Wilmot Paye, said the political group backs the petition launched earlier by the Liberty Party, an opposition party, saying the election was "characterized by massive systematic irregularities and fraud." Read more

Liberia Undergoes Two Historic Shifts, Source: International Policy Digest

Overshadowed by coverage of Liberia’s general elections this month was the news that the UN’s peacekeeping mission (UNMIL) is withdrawing its forces after nearly 15 years on the ground. If all goes as planned, the last troops will leave by April. The development, which comes a little more than a year after UNMIL officially handed over security responsibilities to the government, marks a critical shift for Liberia. Although the country and its outgoing president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, have been applauded for maintaining stability in the aftermath of the bloody civil war that ended in 2003, they have done so with the help of roughly 15,000 peacekeepers at any given time.

Now, it is an open question whether the new president, who will be selected in a run-off in November, will be able to continue keeping the peace – and address the country’s other myriad challenges – without their assistance.

After all, Johnson Sirleaf herself, who received the Nobel Peace Prize for her role returning peace to Liberia, has repeatedly acknowledged the key contributions UNMIL made towards her country’s recovery. In her last speech to the UN General Assembly in September, she went over the successes of her tenure, adding that none of it would have been possible without the assistance of UNMIL. Read more

In Liberia, an Executive Mansion Fit for a President — and Ghosts, Too, Source: The New York Times

Construction crews are hard at work at fixing up this country’s Executive Mansion, the enormous and historic edifice that is supposed to be home to whoever wins the presidential elections. If, that is, they have the stomach to move in.

The place, as any Liberian will tell you, is both haunted and jinxed. I’m from Liberia, so I should know. No president who has slept at the Mansion for any extended period has come to a decent end. Spirits are said to roam the hallways, while the applause of ghosts can be heard late at night, as if clapping at the end of a speech.

Security guards stationed at the Mansion — everybody in Liberia calls it “the Mansion” — report that sometimes in the wee hours of the morning, around the time President William R. Tolbert was gutted, in pajamas and bathrobe, by men led by a successor (who would come to his own premature end), the smell of cooking food wafts through the air as ghosts prepare poor Mr. Tolbert’s last meal. Read more

Disclaimer
 

This media summary consists of selected local media articles for the information of UN personnel. The public distribution of this media summary is a courtesy service extended by UNMIL on the understanding that the choice of articles included is exclusive, and the contents do not represent anything other than a selection of articles likely to be of interest to a United Nations readership. The inclusion of articles in this summary does not imply endorsement by UNMIL.

 

 

 

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