May 5, 2021
The second Liberian Republic has had a lot of ups and downs. Between 1980 and 2017, no presidential candidate has ever won a landslide in any given election as compared to NPP flagbearer Charles G. Taylor. 13 political parties participated in the 1997 presidential election. Taylor won all of them at once with 75.33% (468,443 votes). There was no second round or run-off.
This was indeed a landslide victory. There were also 13 counties at that time but Taylor still could not win 12 out of 13. Even Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who won two successive democratic elections in 2005 and 2011 respectively, could not win 14 out of 15 counties at any given electoral interval. How come did George Weah win 14 out of 15 counties in the 2017 presidential election. Imagine for a moment, a man who could not even win 39% in round one. CDC George Weah only got 38.37% (596,037 votes) while UP Joseph Boakai got 28.76% (446,716 votes). The margin was as minimum as 9.6
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The recent armed attack mounted on an army barracks near Abidjan by assailants, most of whom are believed to be Liberians, is a serious development that should not be taken lightly.
The Ivorian military is said to have repelled the attack but, it still remains unclear just how many assailants were involved in the attack. Three (3) of those reportedly killed have been identified as Liberians based on their passports and identity documents. They are alleged to be mercenaries, but at whose behest they may have been acting remains unclear.
But it can be recalled that recently, during the run-up to the elections in the Ivory Coast, a convoy of vehicles headed for the capital, Yamoussoukro, and allegedly owned by Ivorian/Burkinabe businessman Ousmane Bamba, was set ablaze after arms were discovered on board.