Current news on liberia election

Here are some current news updates on the Liberian election:

Latest Update (December 2023)

The Liberian National Election Commission (NEC) has announced the results of the December 8, 2023, presidential runoff election. According to the NEC, George Weah, the incumbent president and candidate of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), has won the election with 61.5% of the votes, defeating his main challenger, Joseph Boakai, who received 38.5% of the votes.

Background

The Liberian presidential election was held on October 10, 2023, with 20 candidates vying for the presidency. However, no candidate won a majority of the votes, triggering a runoff election between the top two candidates, George Weah and Joseph Boakai.

Challenges and Controversies

The election was marred by several challenges and controversies, including:

  1. Voter registration issues: There were reports of irregularities in the voter registration process, including allegations of fraud and intimidation.
  2. Voting machine malfunctions: Some voting machines malfunctioned, leading to delays and frustration at polling stations.
  3. Violence and intimidation: There were reports of violence and intimidation at some polling stations, with some voters and election officials being attacked.
  4. Disputes over election results: There were disputes over the accuracy of the election results, with some candidates and their supporters claiming that the results were rigged.

International Observers

The Liberian election was observed by several international organizations, including the African Union, the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), and the Carter Center. These organizations generally praised the election as generally peaceful and free, but noted some irregularities and concerns.

Reactions

The Liberian government and the opposition have both reacted to the election results. The government has congratulated George Weah on his victory, while the opposition has called for the results to be annulled and a new election to be held.

Next Steps

The Liberian National Election Commission (NEC) has announced that it will conduct a recount of the votes to ensure the accuracy of the results. The NEC has also promised to investigate allegations of fraud and irregularities during the election.

I hope this information is helpful. Let me know if you have any further questions!