Liberia Holds Presidential Run-Off Election
Liberians are voting in a run-off election for president following a close first-round contest a month ago. Incumbent George Weah and former Vice-President Joseph Boakai are the two leading candidates.
During the first round, President George Weah narrowly won but failed to secure more than 50% of the vote, prompting a run-off election. However, the election process has been marred by allegations of fraud and violence, with nine temporary staff of the election commission arrested over alleged ballot-tampering and clashes reported between supporters of rival opposition parties.
The run-off election marks the fourth presidential election since the end of Liberia’s civil wars more than two decades ago, during which 250,000 people lost their lives. Turnout is expected to be high, with voters eager to participate in the election.
Both candidates are working to secure alliances with the 18 other candidates who ran in the first round, none of whom received more than 3% of the vote. Boakai, who served as the vice-president to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has garnered the endorsement of three of the four best performing candidates. Weah, on the other hand, has focused on improving education and unemployment in his campaign.
This election represents the second presidential run-off between Weah and Boakai, with Weah winning the previous contest in 2017. Polls opened at 08:00 local time and will close at 18:00 local time, with the victor expected to be sworn into office in January next year. The outcome of the election is awaited with anticipation.
Source: BBC
