West African Elders Forum Calls for Peaceful Elections in Liberia as George Weah Seeks Reelection

The West African Elders Forum (WAEF) Election Mission to Liberia has issued a plea for politicians and other stakeholders to prioritize peace and non-violence in the upcoming general election scheduled for Tuesday.

This call to action was articulated in a statement released after the conclusion of the election campaign on Sunday in Monrovia, the capital of Liberia. The statement was jointly endorsed by the head of the mission, former President Goodluck Jonathan, and the deputy head of the mission, Kadrie Ouedrago, former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso.

The WAEF mission urged all political candidates to adhere to the peace accord and called upon Liberia’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) and security agencies to fulfill their responsibilities in accordance with the nation’s laws to foster trust and ensure the integrity of the elections.

The elders praised Liberians for their unwavering faith in the nation’s democracy, as evidenced by the substantial participation in the 2023 election activities, culminating in spirited campaign closures by various political parties on Sunday.

Acknowledging Liberia’s track record of conducting peaceful elections and smooth transitions over the past two decades, the forum urged all stakeholders to sustain this tradition by working towards transparent, free, and fair elections in 2023.

“We urge the candidates and voters to be law-abiding and avoid actions that could negatively impact the elections and threaten the peace and stability that the country has enjoyed since the end of the civil war. We recognize the commitment to a non-violent, free, fair, and transparent electoral process, as demonstrated by the signing of the Farmington River Declaration,” the statement noted. “We implore all candidates to abide by the terms of the peace accord.”

However, the forum expressed concern over recent reports of violent clashes in some areas of Liberia, allegedly resulting in the death of two-party supporters in Lofa County.

“WAEF condemns this unfortunate incident and calls on the relevant authorities to conduct thorough investigations to prevent such acts of violence during and after the elections. In this regard, we encourage them, as they conclude their campaigns, to appeal to their supporters to conduct themselves peacefully and maintain law and order during and after the elections,” added the forum.

WEAF emphasized the importance of promoting progressive politics devoid of hate speech, personal attacks, incendiary rhetoric, and violence. It called on candidates and their supporters to replicate the exemplary milestone achieved in 2017, highlighting that similar peace commitments were made in 2017 and meticulously upheld for the sake of peace, progress, and sustainable democracy.

The statement detailed that the forum had been engaging with Liberian stakeholders since July, when it initially deployed a pre-election mission to Monrovia. On election day, members of the WAEF mission, who arrived in Liberia on Saturday, will visit polling stations in Monrovia to observe the voting procedures and results collation process. The mission will remain active until the results are announced and the electoral processes successfully concluded.

Liberia’s presidential election on Tuesday features 19 candidates competing to succeed President George Weah, who is seeking a second term. Should a second round of voting occur, three candidates emerge as potential rivals to President Weah, the former international football star who secured more than 61 percent of the vote in the second round in 2017.

Back then, his election victory ignited high hopes for change in one of the countries still grappling with the aftermath of civil war and disease. Mr. Weah had spent the previous decade building political credibility, including three years in the Senate, to complement his iconic status in the world of sports.

Today, at the age of 57, he is campaigning vigorously to convince Liberians that he can further enhance their lives.