Liberia: Anxiety as Polarized Citizens Go to the Polls
By George Okore
MONROVIA---The world is fearful of critical issues to a lasting peace as polarized Liberians vote in Tuesday’s national constitutional referendum ahead of presidential and legislative elections on October 10.
The International Crisis Group has joined ecumenical churches in warning of five factors including fighting corruption, deeper commitment to transforming Liberia with a new breed of reform-minded political players and sustained international engagement in supporting this more ambitious transformation. Other recommendations include economic development and regional stability, particularly in its neighbour, Côte d’Ivoire.
“There is still much work to do before international support can be reduced. The post-election crisis in Côte d’Ivoire has tragically revealed the extent of the security threats facing the region and the particular fragility of Liberia”, says Titi Ajayi, Crisis Group’s West Africa Fellow.
Last week, a six-member ecumenical delegation from World Council of Churches (WCC) and All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) visited the West African country at the request of the general secretary of Liberia Council of Churches Dr. Benjamin Dorme Lartey. The ecumenical team met all stakeholders to encourage healing and reconciliation process, which has apparently stalled.
Liberian President, Ellen Sirleaf, the continent’s only woman Head of State has won accolades for democracy and good governance, but her administration attracts fair share of controversies, which the church delegation would like solved amicably. Churches in Liberia have been asked by the government to work with the Independent Human Rights Commission to begin the process of healing and reconciliation.
The religious leaders are worried of adverse consequences and foresee violent outcome of the elections, and could lead to another civil war. In the last 30 years Liberia has experienced two civil wars, the first from 1980 to 1995 and the second from 1999 to 2003. In 2006, the government established a Truth and Reconciliation Commission to explore the causes and crimes committed during the wars.
Not much on the national level is going on to bring about meaningful healing and reconciliation. The results of Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the lack of implementing its recommendations have added to divisions in the country. Of more than 15 presidential elections across Africa this year, Liberian polls are keenly being watched due to several factors. A unique African nation with strong relationship with United States of America, Liberia and Ethiopian are the only African countries without roots in European Scramble for partition of Africa.
It was founded and colonized by freed American Slaves with the help of a private organization called American Colonization Society in 1822-1823, on the premise that former American slaves would have greater freedom and equality there. Sirleaf narrowly beat former World Footballer of the Year George Weah to the presidency in 2005 and is already up and running to defend her seat.
Her win was hailed by international observers as free and fair, her rule has been punctuated with some controversies. Last November, she sent the cabinet on indefinite leave saying her administration is entering critical stretch and needs fresh slate to move forward. On a positive note, her governance radiates a tinge of democracy where press freedom is guaranteed while the Civil Society is active.
Like many West African countries, Liberia’s security responsibilities are still being handled by the United Nations and Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is optimistic that the country will go over the presidential elections smoothly. Liberian UN peace keeping force, known by its acronym UNMIL, has since 2003 bolstered ceasefire agreement ending a decade of war that killed nearly 150,000 people, mostly civilians, and sent 850,000 others fleeing to neighbouring countries.
With over 8,100 troops, UNMIL will provide logistical support for delivery of voter registration materials to remote locations and has helped the national police develop integrated security and contingency plan. The new army is officially scheduled to attain full operational capability by mid-2012. However, several obstacles derail meeting this timeline, including delays in endorsing national defence strategy, raising uncertainties about the army’s future strategic direction and use.The army faces challenges including insufficient budgetary allocation to maintain infrastructure, logistics and equipment, or procure new assets. Although the security situation has remained generally stable but fragile, disputes over access to land and resources, as well as ethnic and communal tensions, continue to present significant challenges.
Maintaining law and order remains a challenge, with frequent reported incidents of rape and armed robbery, as well as drug trafficking and mob violence, with an increasing number of incidents involving firearms, some of them single-barrel shot guns made in neighbouring Guinea.
The country also faces e additional burden imposed by the influx of refugees from volatile neighboring countries especially Côte d’Ivoire. On the fight against corruption, legal bottlenecks and other constraints have hindered progress. However, economic growth and increased foreign investment are encouraging signs that Liberia is on the right track to economic recovery, including increasing employment and government revenue, vital for effective social and other service delivery.