Liberia’s closest presidential race in nearly two decades is pouring suggestion for the formation of a government of national unity that include actors from all parties.
the country is split straight down the line showing ugly ethnic and regional vices after the two main contenders nearly had a tied vote.
President George Weah and Joseph Boakai, a former vice president, will contest a runoff election after this month’s vote failed to produce an outright winner for the nation’s top job.
Weah, 57, and Boakai, 78, garnered the most support of the 20 candidates who contested the first round but neither secured a majority.
Weah secured 43.8% of the ballots cast and Boakai 43.4%, according to the National Elections Commission. About 79% of the 2.4 million registered voters cast their ballots.
The October 10, Legislative and Presidential elections have shown how divisive the country is and that whoever wins, ‘preferably’ President George Weah should form a government of inclusion, former House Speaker, now Bomi County Senator Edwin Melvin Snowe told reporters Monday in the capital Monrovia.
“The elections have been a tough one. One thing I have learned from these elections is that the country is heavily divided. Look at the votes’ lines, Lofa, Nimba, Gbarpolu, Grand Cape Mount and Bomi Counties went green, (Unity Party) while Bong, Grand Bassa, River Cess, Margibi Counties, and the southeastern region went blue, (Coalition for Democratic Change). This should registered to us that the country is divided hugely.’
The two leading candidates are also sharing the idea of a unity government.
UP leader Joseph Boakai said he will form a government of inclusion/
“I am convinced that all the talents and ideas we need to rebuild our country cannot be found in a single party, tribe, county, region or religion,” he said.
“That is why I am committed to forming a government of inclusion when we ultimately achieve our grand goal of democratically evicting President Weah from the Executive Mansion in a few weeks.
President Weah:
“To every Liberian whose vote we may not have gotten and all other stakeholders in the country, let me also thank you for your contribution to the growth of our democracy and assure you of my unwavering resolve to build a prosperous nation for all, regardless of political, social or religious affiliations,” Snowe said.
“I am therefore extending a hand of friendship, hoping that you will understand that this government has done more in a short period of time; so join me and let us together continue on the path of development.”
