Liberians heads to the polls for a presidential run-off

By Baillor Jalloh

Liberians have headed to the polls today for a presidential run-off to elect the country’s new president. Tuesday’s run-off is a contest between incumbent and former football star George Weah and veteran former vice president, now the main opposition leader, Joseph Nyuma Boakai. Both candidates failed to secure the 50% or more votes needed to secure victory on October 10. In the first round Mr Weah, who is the flag bearer for the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) gained 43.8% and his rival Mr Boakai from the Unity Party (UP) only secured 43.4% and the other smaller parties took the rest. Political analysts have described the run-off as one of the tightest presidential races in the country’s democratic history and a rematch of the 2017 election between the two candidates, in which Mr Weah was victorious.

Left, President George Weah and right Joseph Boakai.

Unlike the first round which saw many polling stations opening late due to a heavy rain fall in many parts of the country, in Tuesday’s run-off, all polling stations were opened at 8am local time and large queues of people were seen in some parts of the country waiting to cast their votes.

Voters waiting in a queue to cast their votes in Liberia’s run-off election. Photo credit: Federation of Liberian Youth

However, in other areas of the capital Monrovia, voter turnout in some polling stations were very low. A resident from Monrovia, who didn’t want to be named told African Voices Platform: “I have voted peacefully and it only took me three minutes to cast my vote. ”Unlike the first round in which there were large queues, this one, many polling stations are empty.” And according to reports from Front Page Africa, one of Liberia’s most read newspapers, in the early hours, when voting started in Monrovia, a man was seen with a white megaphone, going around encouraging people to come out and vote “as part of efforts to increase voter turnout.”

One of many polling stations in Monrovia, where voters can cast their vote. Photo credit: Ibrahim Telly Jalloh

On Monday, Liberia’s electoral commission appealed for a peaceful election. It urged voters to go out and vote peacefully and return home peacefully. In 2017, Mr Weah who is now 57, was voted into the country’s highest office after promising he will tackle the country’s economic challenges, fight corruption and create jobs for the youths. But since taking office, the former successful footballer has found it difficult to stabilise the economy and create jobs for the unemployed. In 2022, Mr Weah suspended three of his officials after the United States announced sanctions on them for corruption allegations. However, Mr Weah has asked Liberians to be patient and give him more time to fix the economy and the country’s education system. He blames the current economic challenges facing the country as a result of COVID and the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. Meanwhile, Mr Boakai, who served as Liberia’s Vice President during the presidency of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female head of state, has campaigned on investing in agriculture and infrastructure. The 78 year-old has also accused his rival of mismanaging the country’s economy. Since Liberia’s civil war ended in 2003, in which tens of thousands were killed during the 20 year conflict, this will be the fourth democratic election the country has witnessed.