Liberia 2023 Elections: All you need to know about the October 10 polls

 

Liberia 2023 elections are scheduled to be held on Tuesday, October 10, 2023. The election will present Liberians with the opportunity to elect their next president, members of the House of Representatives, and the Senate. The incumbent president, George Weah has announced his intention to seek re-election, amidst allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

This year’s election will be the country’s fourth election after the second civil war which resulted in the death of about 250,000 people. The last time Liberia went to the polls was in 2017, when George Weah, the current president of Liberia secured a landslide victory over his closest contender, Joseph Boakai, securing 61.5% of the total valid votes cast.

Liberia practises a presidential republic with a bicameral National Assembly. The president is the head of state and government and is elected by popular vote for a six-year term. The Senate has 30 seats, with two senators elected from each of the country's 15 counties. Senators serve nine-year terms. The House of Representatives has 73 seats, with members elected from single-member constituencies to serve six-year terms.

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the presidential election with a focus on the main contenders, key issues, and women's participation.

Main candidates

In all, 20 candidates have been cleared by the Liberian National Electoral Commission to contest the 2023 presidential election. However, the battle is among three contenders: the incumbent President, George Weah, representing the Coalition for Democratic Change; Joseph Boakai from the Unity Party; and Alexander Cummings, who represents the Collaborating Political Parties.

Other candidates include Edward Appleton Jr. (Grassroots Development Movement), Allen Brown Jr. (Liberia Restoration Party), Simeon Freeman (Movement for Progressive Change), Tiawan Saye Gongloe (Liberian's People's Party), Lusinee Kamara Sr. (All Liberia Coalition Party), David Kiamu (Democratic People's Party of Liberia), Alexander Kolie (Reformers National Congress), Sheikh Kouyateh (Liberia First Movement), Bendu Alehma Kromah (Independent), Richard Saye Miller (Liberians for Prosperity), Clarence Moniba (Liberian National Union) and  Robert Franz Morris (Independent).

The rest are Sara Beysolow Nyanti (African Liberation League), William Wiah Tuider (Democratic National Allegiance), Joshua Tom Turner (New Liberia Party), Jeremiah Whaploe (Vision for Liberia Transformation), and  Luther Yorflee (Liberia Rebuilding Party).

Key Issues for Liberian Voters in the 2023 Elections

As Liberia gears up for its presidential and parliamentary elections, several critical issues are at the forefront of voters' minds. The challenges facing the nation include economic hardships, concerns over electoral violence, the need for job creation, rampant corruption, and the fragile peace that Liberia seeks to preserve.

Economic challenges have weighed heavily on the minds of many Liberians, with rising living costs and financial struggles making daily life increasingly difficult. A significant portion of Liberia's population, more than a fifth, lives on less than $2.15 per day, according to World Bank estimates.

The issue of electoral violence is another major concern, rooted in Liberia's history of back-to-back civil wars from 1989 to 2003. Recent events, such as the parading of a candidate's photograph on a coffin during a campaign event, have fuelled these worries.

 Corruption remains endemic in Liberia, despite promises from previous election campaigns to combat it. Trust in the political establishment has eroded further following allegations of corruption involving high-ranking officials and their close allies.

Women Participation

The issue of fair representation of women in the electoral process remains a concern. Recent data from the National Elections Commission (NEC) reveals that only 15% of the candidates fielded by political parties are women. This falls short of both Liberia's Constitutional Provisions for equal representation and the 30% gender quota voluntarily agreed upon by political parties.

While Liberia lacks legislated gender quotas, political parties can implement voluntary quotas for candidate lists and leadership positions. They can also provide financial support to women candidates, a common practice in many African countries. However, despite signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) committing to a 30% gender quota, Liberia's political parties have consistently failed to meet this target during candidate nomination processes.