15 January 2018

LIBERIA MEDIA HIGHLIGHTS

UP Expels Pres. Sirleaf -But she rejects action, terming it illegal, Sources: ABC News, All Africa, BBC News, Bloomberg News, Daily OBSERVER, Daily Mail Online, Deutsche Welle News, Fox News, FrontPage Africa, Pakistan Today, Punch, Reuters, Tampa Bay Times, The Japan Times, The Citizen, The Guardian, The New York Times, The Washington Post, TRT World, WPXI News, and Xinhua

The ruling Unity Party (UP) issued a statement over the weekend, expelling its former standard bearer President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for what it says was her meddling in the 2017 elections in which its candidate Vice President Joseph Boakai lost to Senator George Weah. Also expelled were River Gee Senator Conmany Wesseh, his wife Medina, and Patrick Worzie. President Sirleaf has however dismissed the action, terming it illegal.

In a press statement issued late Saturday, the UP amongst other things said “The behavior of the expelled persons … constitutes sabotage and undermine the existence of the party.” The release also said the expelled persons had violated the party rules requiring members to support all UP candidates in elections.

But President Sirleaf, according to presidential press secretary Jerolinmek Piah, has dismissed the action terming it as illegal and not in conformity with party rules and regulations. “The pronounced action by the UP will not have a reaction from the President because it is not an action that requires or deserves a reaction from the President. She is focused on concluding her transition,” Mr. Piah added.

The presidential press secretary did not explain in detail why the President considered the UP’s action against her illegal but said, “The party rules are clear as to how such decisions can be derived.  Expulsion does not come from the thin air. There are things that an individual should do that result in expulsion. When she leaves the presidency, the party matter will be handled the party way. “As far as she is concerned, she still considers herself a member of the UP,” Piah emphasized. Read more

Ellen's expulsion unconstitutional, Source: The New Dawn

Ruling Unity Party (UP) lawmaker Worlea Saywah Dunah says the expulsion of outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf from the UP by party executives is unconstitutional and undemocratic. Representative Dunah in a statement issued Sunday said he considers the action against President Sirleaf, Senator Conmany Wesseh, and others on January 13 as being in ‘gross violation’ of the party constitution and contrary to the cardinal tenet of due process as is practiced here. Dunah warns that it is an unfortunate political development that will undermine the growth and continuing sustainability of the UP. Read more

Inauguration Threatened, Source: Daily OBSERVER

The Daily Observer reports that wives of officers of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) have vowed to repeat their strike action again until the government settles its financial obligations to their husbands. This puts under grave threat, the much-anticipated and heralded peaceful transition from one democratically elected government to another. “We will ensure that this pending inauguration will not go on as planned until our plights are addressed by the Ministry of Defense and President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf,” the women who have been protesting at the EBK Military Barracks told the Daily Observer. The women, who converged at the EBK Military Barracks on the Robertsfield highway, came from the four major AFL Barracks in the country.

The women, who are reportedly backed by their husbands, have planned to take their protest actions to Monrovia early this week if their demands are not met. They have also vowed to ensure that the pending inauguration, even if it is held, will not be done in a peaceful atmosphere. Read more

Legislators pick new leaders today, Sources: Daily OBSERVER and The New Dawn

Both Houses of the Liberian Legislature are due to vote for new leaderships today, Monday that will head that branch of government for the next six years marking President-elect George Weah's first term in office after outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. There are indications that a candidate for the post of Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr. Bhofal Chambers of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) is sitting comfortably to succeed outgoing Speaker J. Emmanuel Nuquay. With regards to the Senate President Pro-Tempore election, Senator Albert Chie appears to be standing a chance to succeed Senator Armah Jallah. He will be battling against Senator Steve Zargo.

FLY calls for inclusive governance, Source: The New Dawn

The Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) wants the incoming government of President-elect George Weah to involve young people in the governance machinery of the country. FLY says its call is necessary to adequately give citizens equal opportunities to demonstrate their talents in whatever capacity they are suited for. Addressing a news conference over the weekend in Monrovia, outgoing president Augustine Tamba said it is important the incoming government prioritize inclusiveness in the governance process. Read more

Liberia Holds 2nd ECOWAS Human Rights Day Tomorrow -President Sirleaf delivers Keynote address, Source: Daily OBSERVER

Liberia will on January 16 and 17 host the 2nd official celebration of the ECOWAS Human Rights Day. The day will also be celebrated across the West African sub-region under the international theme: “Right to Education.” The national theme is: “Right to Education, a must for all Liberians.” The Independent National Commission on Human Rights (INCHR), the statutory human rights body in Liberia, will in collaboration with the ECOWAS Office in Liberia lead the celebrations at the Bella Casa Hotel. During the celebration, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf will deliver the keynote address to be preceded by remarks from her successor, President-elect George Weah. Read more

Several Households, Businesses to Benefit from Electricity in Suakoko, Source: FrontPage Africa

USAID and the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) Friday signed a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC) to provide electricity to residents of Suakoko District in Bong County. Under the terms of the MOC, USAID and the LEC will jointly support the development and management of a 77-kilometer electricity transmission line from the Nimba County grid in Ganta to Gbarnga, Bong County. Ultimately, the goal is to expand the project and provide electricity to more people of Bong County, particularly in the Gbarnga area. The signing of the memorandum, which was witnessed by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, is part of the United States Government’s efforts through its Power Africa Initiative (PAI) to help Liberia provide its people access to affordable electricity. Read more

INTERNATIONAL MEDIA ON LIBERIA

Adesina, Aig-Imoukhuede and Others to Join Eminent Persons Panel in Liberia, Source: This Day Live

The President of the African Development Bank, (AfDB), Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and the Chairman of Coronation Capital, Mr. Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, will join other eminent persons’ panel today in Monrovia Liberia for a high-level panel discussion on migration. The panel will be chaired and hosted by the President of Liberia, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Members of the panel are drawn from Africa, Asia, Europe, and North America. Participants at this HLPM meeting will include the UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary of the ECA, Dr. Vera Songwe; the Deputy Executive Secretary, Dr. Abdalla Hamdok;the Adesina; the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, Norway, Knut Vollebaek; Aig-Imoukhuede, the founder of the African Diaspora Network in the USA, Ms. Almaz Negash; Ms. Danisa E. Baloyi, Black Business Counsel, South Africa; and Assistant Director-General and Regional Director for Africa, International Labour Organization, Ms. Cynthia Samuel-Olonjowon. Read more

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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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