Liberian general election, 2005

Liberian elections in 2005 marked the end of the political transition following Liberia's second civil war. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former World Bank employee and finance minister, won the presidential contest and became the first democratically-elected female Head of State in the history of the African continent in January 2006.

Following the resignation and departure into exile of President Charles Taylor in August 2003, the country was led by a transitional government as part of a deal to end the war, until Johnson-Sirleaf was sworn in as president.

Important dates and regulations

Frances Johnson-Morris, the chairwoman of the National Elections Commission (NEC), announced the October 11 date on February 7, 2005. ["Liberia to hold elections October 11", Agence France-Presse (AFP), February 7, 2005.]

The House of Representatives of the new Legislature will have 64 seats; each of Liberia's 15 counties will have two seats, and the remaining 34 seats will be allotted proportionally based on voter registration. ["Liberia electoral reform bill signed into law", AFP, December 17, 2004.] The Senate will have 30 seats.

George Weah

Prior to the election, former football star George Weah was considered by many to be the favorite, due at least partially to widespread dissatisfaction with Liberia's politicians. Weah, who had been the subject of a petition published in September 2004 urging him to run, ["Football legend George Weah urged to stand for Liberian presidency", AFP, October 3, 2004.] announced his candidacy in mid-November 2004 and received a hero's welcome when he arrived in Monrovia later in the month. [Terence Sesay, "Presidential candidate Weah takes Monrovia by storm", Deutsche Presse-Agentur, November 24, 2004.] Weah won the first round of voting and but lost in the November 8, 2005 run-off. He initially filed formal fraud charges, but subsequently dropped his allegations, citing the interests of peace.

Excluded candidates

These are Liberia's first elections since a victory by Taylor and his National Patriotic Party in the July 1997 elections, which some did not consider fully free and fair. The chairman of the transitional government, Gyude Bryant, and other members of the transitional government did not run, according to the terms of the peace deal.

On August 13, the election commission published a list of 22 presidential candidates who were cleared to run; six candidates were rejected, but Weah was cleared to stand despite complaints that he had adopted French citizenship. The Senate seats were contested by 206 candidates and the seats in the lower house were contested by 503 candidates. [http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/low/africa/4149010.stm] Campaigning for the elections began on August 15.

In late September, the Supreme Court ruled that two excluded presidential candidates, Marcus Jones and Cornelius Hunter, and an excluded legislative candidate could register to run; this ruling created the possibility that the elections would have to be postponed in order to reprint ballot papers. However, these candidates later withdrew their bids, so the elections went ahead on schedule on October 11. ["Two Liberian candidates stand down to prevent delay of election", Deutsche Presse-Agentur, October 6, 2005.]

Presidential candidates

Results

Presidential elections

Voting took place in two rounds 11 October and 8 November. Twenty-two people contested the presidential race in the first round. George Weah, former soccer star and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former World Bank employee and finance minister finished first and second, respectively and advanced to the second round run-off, which Johnson-Sirleaf won 59%-41%, according to the National Electoral Commission.

Weah claimed election fraud, stating elections officials were stuffing ballot boxes in Johnson-Sirleaf's favor. Most elections observers, including those from the United Nations, the European Union and the Economic Community of West African States, say that the election was clean and transparent. The Carter Center observed "minor irregularities" but no major problems. Johnson-Sirleaf reminded the press that Weah has 72 hours to bring evidence of wrongdoing to her campaign according to Liberian law, calling the accusations "lies" and stating that Weah's supporters "just don't want a woman to be President in Africa." [http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20051110/ap_on_re_af/liberia]

On December 22, 2005, Weah withdrew his protests, and in January Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf became the first democratically-elected female Head of State in the history of the African Continent, and the first female African Head of State since Empress Zauditu, who ruled Ethiopia from 1916 to 1930.

Legislative elections

References

*http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/world/13132018.htm
*http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,3-1866394,00.html

External links

General information

* [http://www.necliberia.org/ National Elections Commission]
* [http://www.liberia2005.com/ Liberia 2005: The Road to Democracy]
* [http://www.unmil.org/content.asp?cat=elections United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Electoral Division]
* [http://www.unitedliberia.com/cgi-bin/index.php United Liberia - Latest News]
* [http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/58/ Press Freedom Conditions in Liberia] - IFEX
* [http://allafrica.com/liberia/ All Africa, Liberia news]

Candidates

* [http://www.ellenforpresident.org/ Ellen for President]
* [http://www.natbarnesforliberia.net/ Nat Barnes for President]
* [http://www.charlesbrumskine.org/ Charles Brumskine Campaign Site]
* [http://www.divinecandidacy.org/ Samuel Raymond Divine Campaign Site]
* [http://www.johnmorlu.com/ John Morlu for President]
* [http://www.varneyshermanforpresident.org/ Varney Sherman for President]
* [http://members.tripod.com/tipoteh12/ Dr. Togba-Nah Tipoteh for President]
* [http://www.friendsofwinston.org/ Winston Tubman Campaign Site]
* [http://www.friendsofgeorgeweah.com/ George Weah Campaign Site]

Political parties

* [http://www.cdcliberia.org/ Congress for Democratic Change]
* [http://theunityparty.org/ Unity Party]

Articles

* [http://www.opendemocracy.net/democracy-africa_democracy/liberia_2903.jsp I am woman, hear my roar] Katharine Houreld on the participation of women in the 2005 Liberian election.