2023 Liberian general election

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2023 Liberian general election
← 2017 10 October 2023 (first round)
14 November 2023 (second round)		 2029 →
Presidential election
 
Nominee Joseph Boakai George Weah
Party UP CDC
Running mate Jeremiah Koung Jewel Taylor
Popular vote 814,481 793,914
Percentage 50.64% 49.36%
Weah:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%      90–100%
Boakai:      40–50%      50–60%      60–70%      70–80%      80–90%
President before election

George Weah
CDC

Elected President

Joseph Boakai
UP

House of Representatives election
All 73 seats in the House of Representatives
37 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader % Seats +/–
CDC George Weah 22.12 25 +4
UP Joseph Boakai 13.09 11 −9
CPP Musa Hassan Bility 7.59 6 New
MDR Prince Johnson 2.77 4 +2
PUP Samuel Kogar 4.34 2 −3
ALP Benoni Urey 2.53 1 −1
LNU Jerome Slojue 2.32 1 0
MPC O'neal Passawe 1.04 1 +1
NDC Alaric K. Tokpa 1.04 1 New
VOLT None 0.81 1 +1
LRP Gabriel Salee 0.75 1 +1
Independents — 25.71 19 +6
Senate election
15 of the 30 seats in the Senate
15 seats needed for a majority
Party Leader % Seats +/–
CDC George Weah 34.26 6 +3
UP Joseph Boakai 12.04 1 −3
MDR Prince Johnson 7.09 1 +1
LRP Gabriel Salee 1.47 1 +1
Independents — 24.34 6 +3
Politics of Liberia
Constitution
Executive
Legislature
Judiciary
Elections
Political parties
Administrative divisions
Foreign relations
flag Liberia portal

General elections were held in Liberia on 10 October 2023 to elect the President, House of Representatives and half of the Senate.[1][2] Incumbent president George Weah was eligible for a second term.[3] No candidate won a majority in the first round, with Weah narrowly placing first over opposition leader Joseph Boakai, which meant both advanced to a runoff held on 14 November 2023.[4][5] Boakai defeated Weah by just over one percentage point in the closest runoff in Liberia's history, and Weah conceded the election peacefully.[6][7]

European Union observers described the runoff as remarkably close and well administered.[8] ECOWAS and the United States congratulated Liberia on the "largely" peaceful elections.[9][10]

Background[edit]

Liberia has an established history of civil violence following contested elections, particularly the 1985 Liberian coup d'état attempt which was the root cause of the First Liberian Civil War. This election is also notable as it is the first election without United Nations observers since the Second Liberian Civil War.[11] Linda Thomas Greenfield, the United States Ambassador to the United Nations, warned that the U.S. would call out anyone who undermines the electoral process through fraud, violence, or intimidation, while ECOWAS, seeking to prevent another entry in the growing West African Coup Belt, urged for calm.[12][13] Additionally, ECOWAS reported that the election has sharply divided the population and urged for maturity from political leaders and a peaceful transfer of power.[14]

Liberian voters stated that they felt "underwhelmed" the first term of the Weah administration, calling out the poor economic state of the country going into the election as well as a slew of corruption scandals in Weah's cabinet as Liberia is still suffering from the fallout of two civil wars and an Ebola outbreak.[15] Weah's campaign focused on the fact the Liberian economy grew by 4.8% in 2022, mostly driven by gold exports to friendly neighbors, as well as promoting a general rule of law campaign.[16][17] Boakai, meanwhile, focused on the corruption scandals and youth unemployment vowing to save Liberia from "Weah's failed leadership" all while attempting to keep his age of 78 out of political discussions.[18][19]

Electoral system[edit]

The president is elected using the two-round system,[20] while the 73 members of the House of Representatives are elected by first-past-the-post voting in single-member constituencies.[21] One of the two members of the Senate from each county were also up for election via first-past-the-post voting.

Candidates[edit]

Nathaniel Barnes, a former Liberian ambassador to the United States (2008–2010), announced in January his intention to run for the presidency as an independent candidate.[22]

Clarence Moniba, the leader of the Liberia National Union, announced in January that he would run for the presidency.[23]

Joseph Boakai, former Vice President of Liberia (2006–2018) and candidate for president in 2017, announced in January that he would run for the presidency again.[24]

Alexander B. Cummings Jr., a former chief administrative officer of Coca-Cola (2008–2016) who finished fifth in the 2017 presidential election, announced he would run for president again as the Alternative National Congress candidate with Charlyne Brumskine as his running mate.[25]

George Weah, incumbent president of Liberia, announced that he would seek a second term in 2023.[26]

Campaign[edit]

The election run-up and first round campaigning was generally considered fair and free by both international and domestic watchdog groups. ECOWAS's Head of Election Mission Liberia, Attahiru Jega, praised the electorate for their orderliness and decorum in casting votes. He also commended the country's politicians for the same orderliness and abiding by electoral etiquette. Jega noted that this would be the first Liberian election without the presence of United Nations election observers, with most election security being performed by domestic agencies, namely in the form of the Elections Coordinating Committee which deployed several hundred observers across the country.[27][28][29]

However, observers from the African Union, European Union, ECOWAS, and the United States would still be present.[30] During the course of the election, observers followed the balloting across the country and only noted a few minor incidents with the National Elections Commission (NEC) having 14 days to fully count and report all ballots.[31] However, notably, Unity Party campaign spokesman Mohammed Ali falsely claimed that the ECOWAS observers accepted a $150,000 bribe from the CDC to compromise its neutral role as an observer; in response the Unity Party quickly denounced the statement.[32] Meanwhile, the CDC accused the Election Coordinating Committee and it's chairman Oscar Bloh of breaking it's neutrality and coordinating with the Unity Party by posting a video of Bloh meeting with Unity Party senator Amara Konneh and other high ranking Unity Party members, with the ECC and Bloh denouncing the video as fabricated.[33]

Additionally, both Unity Party and CDC activists claimed that former president, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and current vice-president, Jewel Taylor, respectively were traveling aboard to shore up support for an intervention to support their respective parties, however, both were in Ghana for the funeral of the late former First-Lady Theresa Kufuor. Local Voices Liberia, a local watchdog group, attributed the source of the disinformation to be sitting representative Yekeh Kolubah.[34]

On 13 November, the day before the presidential runoff, Justice Minister Frank Musah Dean issued a warning to the participating parties to not announce the results prior to the NEC, warning that doing so would result in partisan violence. However, as the first results started to be reported on 15 November high-ranking members of both the CDC and the Unity Party took to social media to announce that their parties had won the election. Among them was former Finance Minister, sitting senator from Gbarpolu County, and the Unity Party's campaign coordinator, Amara Konneh, who claimed that with 85% of the vote counted Joseph Boakai held a 40,910 vote lead. Other Unity Party figures, such as Yekeh Kolubah who took to the streets with his supporters celebrating a yet to be confirmed Boakai victory, and former warlord Joshua Milton Blahyi promised "retaliation" against the CDC now that they no longer held the presidency, claiming that the CDC supported political violence.[13] Members of the CDC also claimed premature victory, namely CDC secretary-general Jefferson Koijee, who took to the streets with supporters a few hours after polls closed to celebrate.[35]

Additionally, the West African Elders Forum Mission to Liberia and the Angie Brooks International Center also called for calm denouncing premature victory claims and urging against political violence.[36][37]

By 17 November, the vast majority of the run-off election ballots had been counted, suggesting Weah had lost re-election by a slim margin and that Boakai had won. However, it was announced that the election would need to be re-held in Nimba County on 18 November, after it was revealed one polling station had a greater number of cast ballots than the number of registered voters.[38] Regardless, Weah officially conceded the election to Boakai earlier in the morning on the 18th.[39]

Results[edit]

President[edit]

No candidate won a majority in the first round, with Weah narrowly placing first over opposition leader Joseph Boakai, which meant both advanced to a runoff held on 14 November 2023.[4][5]

Boakai defeated Weah 51% to 49% in the closest runoff in Liberia's electoral history.[6][40]

CandidateRunning matePartyFirst roundSecond round
Votes%Votes%
George WeahJewel TaylorCoalition for Democratic Change804,08743.83793,91449.36
Joseph BoakaiJeremiah KoungUnity Party796,96143.44814,48150.64
Edward W. AppletonAlex GonteeGrassroots Development Movement40,2712.20
Lusinee KamaraMatthew DarbloAll Liberia Coalition Party35,9881.96
Alexander B. Cummings Jr.Charlyne BrumskineCollaborating Political Parties29,6131.61
Tiawan Saye GongloeEmmanuel YarkpawoloLiberian People's Party26,3941.44
Allen R. Brown Jr.Noosevett WeahLiberia Restoration Party15,6070.85
Simeon FreemanJames BarclayMovement for Progressive Change13,2050.72
William Wiah TuiderJonah DumoeDemocratic National Allegiance11,1840.61
Joshua Tom TurnerSomah PaygaiNew Liberia Party9,8130.53
Jeremiah WhapoeErasmus FahnbullehVision for Liberia Transformation9,1490.50
Luther YorfeeJuvenal PearsonLiberia Rebuilding Party6,4790.35
Bendu KromahThomas KruahIndependent5,9910.33
Clarence MonibaGrace-Tee KpaanLiberia National Union5,2980.29
Sherikh KouyatehMax VargbeleeLiberia First Movement5,1000.28
David KiamuAnnie TuazamaDemocratic People's Party of Liberia5,0860.28
Alexander KollieGrace YuanReformers National Congress4,3980.24
Sara Beysolow NyantiSimeon MoribahAfrican Liberation League3,6440.20
Robert Franz MorrisCelia BrownIndependent3,3630.18
Richard Saye MillerEmike SlawonLiberian for Prosperity Party2,8850.16
Total1,834,516100.001,608,395100.00
Valid votes1,834,51694.121,608,39598.42
Invalid/blank votes114,6395.8825,7881.58
Total votes1,949,155100.001,634,183100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,471,61778.862,471,61766.12
Source: NEC (candidates), NEC

House of Representatives[edit]

PartyVotes%Seats+/–
Coalition for Democratic Change401,92122.1225+4
Unity Party237,93113.0911−9
Collaborating Political Parties (ANC–LP)137,9097.596New
People's Unification Party78,9134.342−3
Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction50,4082.774+2
All Liberian Party45,8862.531−2
Liberia National Union42,1792.3210
Movement for One Liberia38,8842.140New
Liberian People's Party35,4001.950−1
National Development Party32,2021.770New
Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia26,1021.440New
All Liberia Coalition Party23,4361.290New
African Liberation League20,5621.130New
Liberia Transformation Party19,0871.050−1
Democratic National Allegiance18,9591.040New
Movement for Progressive Change18,9461.041+1
National Democratic Coalition18,7681.031New
Vision for Liberia Transformation14,6410.811+1
United Independent Democrats14,3930.790New
Liberia Restoration Party13,6040.751+1
New Liberia Party10,0570.5500
Democratic People's Party of Liberia9,8500.540New
Liberia Rebuilding Party9,7680.540New
Liberia First Movement8,6080.470New
Rainbow Alliance (TWP−VCP)8,5740.470New
Liberian for Prosperity Party4,4990.250New
Reformers National Congress3,1160.170New
African Democratic Movement of Liberia2,3030.130New
All Liberians Solidarity Party1,9400.110New
Greater Action Party of Liberia8310.050New
Grassroots Development Movement2280.010New
Independents467,10525.7119+6
Total1,817,010100.00730
Valid votes1,817,01094.10
Invalid/blank votes113,9625.90
Total votes1,930,972100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,471,61778.13
Source: NEC

Senate[edit]

PartyVotes%Seats
Total
before		UpWonTotal
after		+/–
Coalition for Democratic Change620,89234.266[a]3[b]69+3
Unity Party218,13812.046413–3
Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction128,4377.091012+1
People's Unification Party86,4664.772101–1
Collaborating Political Parties (ANC–LP)83,4234.606[c]3[d]03–3
Liberia National Union41,6812.3000000
Liberian People's Party39,7182.1900000
United Independent Democrats30,1491.660000New
All Liberia Coalition Party29,3621.6200000
Liberia Restoration Party26,5751.470011+1
All Liberian Party14,1210.7810010
National Development Party7,0770.390000New
Economic Freedom Fighters of Liberia6,5900.360000New
Rainbow Alliance (TWP−VCP)6,5520.3600000
Movement for One Liberia5,8230.3200000
Democratic National Allegiance5,2060.290000New
All Liberians Solidarity Party3,7640.210000New
Vision for Liberia Transformation3,6090.2000000
New Liberia Party3,4250.1900000
Liberia Transformation Party2,8810.1600000
National Democratic Coalition2,4430.131100–1
Greater Action Party of Liberia2,1200.120000New
Movement for Progressive Change2,0460.1100000
Liberia Rebuilding Party6640.040000New
Independents441,00124.3473610+3
Total1,812,163100.00301515300
Valid votes1,812,16393.37
Invalid/blank votes128,6946.63
Total votes1,940,857100.00
Registered voters/turnout2,471,61778.53
Source: NEC
  1. ^ 5 held by the Congress for Democratic Change, 1 by the National Patriotic Party.
  2. ^ 2 held by the Congress for Democratic Change, 1 by the National Patriotic Party.
  3. ^ 4 held by the Liberty Party, 2 by the Alternative National Congress.
  4. ^ 2 held by the Liberty Party, 1 by the Alternative National Congress.

Aftermath[edit]

Incumbent president Weah conceded the election peacefully.[6][7]

President-elect Boakai in his victory speech promised to form a government of inclusion that reflects the political, social and religious diversity of the citizens.[41]

Car-ramming incident[edit]

As crowds gathered at the Unity Party headquarters in Monrovia to celebrate Boakai's victory on 20 November, they were rammed by a jeep without license plates, killing three people and injuring 17. The driver, who had switched off the vehicle's lights prior to the incident, fled the scene while the vehicle was set on fire by angry onlookers. While police said the incident was accidental, the Unity Party called it an "act of terrorism" and cancelled upcoming celebrations until further notice. The outgoing government called on the public "to refrain from making unsubstantiated claims about the incident," citing the potential for post-election violence.[42][43]

International reactions[edit]

European Union observers described the runoff as remarkably close and well administered, saying; "the conduct of the voting process in observed polling stations as very good". EU observers further added the campaign was largely peaceful and quiet. EU observers concluded political freedoms of candidates and supporters were largely respected, but the use of state resources by the ruling party distorted the level playing field.[8]

ECOWAS also congratulated all stakeholders on the "largely" peaceful elections, although it noted isolated incidents in the counties of Lofa, Nimba, Bong and Montserrado, which resulted in "injuries and hospitalisation".[10]

The United States congratulated Liberia on holding a peaceful presidential runoff election. United States Department of State spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement; "it notes the broad participation of Liberians across the country and applauded the commitment and dedication of Liberian citizens in exercising their right to vote and in engaging in the electoral process peacefully."[9]

References[edit]

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  21. ^ Electoral system Archived 8 September 2017 at the Wayback Machine IPU
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