A senior UN human rights official on Wednesday called on authorities in Liberia to take all necessary measures to ensure that the upcoming elections can take place in a fully inclusive manner.
Downtown Monrovia, Liberia, in March 2009. (Photo by Erik Hershman from Wikipedia Commons via Courthouse News)
MONROVIA, Liberia (AFP) Liberians have rejected plans to shorten presidential terms and to allow dual citizenship, the country’s electoral commission said Thursday, announcing referendum results delayed for months over allegations of fraud.
The West African nation went to the polls in mid-December for a constitutional referendum proposed by President George Weah, 54, who had argued against politicians staying in office for too long.
But his proposal for presidents and lower house lawmakers to serve five years instead of six, and for senators to serve seven years instead of nine, sparked suspicion in Liberia.
US Embassy warns traveling Americans to have enough cash on them when visiting Liberia
The United States government has alerted its citizens traveling to Liberia to come with hard cash due to the country’s worsening economic situation that has forced banks to ration daily cash-withdrawals.
In a statement, Uncle Sam, through its Monrovia Embassy warned Americans and others foreign nations intending to visit Liberia that the county is facing an acute shortage of local and foreign currencies; as such, they “they should travel with cash that will sustain them for their time in the country.”
“Liberia’s banking sector has experienced a growing shortage of cash – both U.S. and Liberian dollars – over the last several months. As a consequence, it is difficult to obtain adequate cash supplies from ATMs and banks. There are no ATM facilities for public use at the U.S. Embassy,” it said.