Liberia election: George Weah v Joseph Boakai

Liberia has begun counting votes after a day of silent vote casting in a contested presidential runoff that voters hope will consequence in the nation’s first democratic transition in extra than 70 years.

The delayed vote on Tuesday pitted George Weah, a fifty one-twelve months-ragged ex-world football megastar and Liberian senator, in opposition to seventy three-twelve months-ragged Joseph Boakai, who has been the nation’s vice president for the final 12 years.

Virtually 2.2 million folk were eligible to vote in the runoff in the West African nation.

Weah, who topped the first spherical of vote casting but did no longer stable the 50 % desired to purchase outright, is heavily favoured to purchase the runoff.

« Vote counting goes on in polling stations across the nation, » Al Jazeera’s Mohammed Adow, reporting from the capital Monrovia, mentioned gradual on Tuesday.

« The electoral rate has two weeks to advise the results, but officials they’re going to realize so within four days. »

The turnout on Tuesday used to be « nowhere near that of the first spherical held in October », our correspondent mentioned, attributing the low numbers to a seven-week lengthen in keeping the runoff.

Originally scheduled for November 7, the vote used to be delayed after the social gathering of a third candidate filed a valid grievance alleging voter fraud and irregularities.

Both Weah, the candidate for the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC), and Boakai, of the Solidarity Party, delight in promised to revive Liberia’s struggling economy and kickstart infrastructure projects.

Liberians are effectively deciding on a successor to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Africa’s first elected female head of snarl, whose 12-twelve months rule helped cement peace in Liberia after two bloody civil wars, which spanned 14 years sooner than ending in 2003. 

Henry Boyd Flomo, a spokesman for the National Elections Commission of Liberia, known as the election « foremost » and « ancient ».

« It be ancient because for about a years, we delight in now no longer had a sitting president willingly, democratically turn over to every other individual, » Flomo told Al Jazeera earlier in the day.

« And it is the third consecutive election for the reason that civil battle. So it is reasonably vital and we delight in it very critically.

« What we hope is that the candidates admire the views of the voters. »

Weah is an ex-world football megastar and senator [Thierry Gouegnon/Reuters]

Boakai and Weah, after casting their ballots in Monrovia, both mentioned they were assured of victory.

« That is a broad day since it is miles a test of democracy, » Boakai mentioned.

« We’re going to purchase because the folk assume in us and they know we portray the highest. »

Weah, who used to be defeated by Sirleaf in 2005, used to be particular that his 2d speed for the presidency would build success.

« Victory is particular. I am particular that I would possibly purchase, » he mentioned.

A purchase for Weah?

Alex Vines, head of the Africa Programme at the Chatham Rental, mentioned Weah, who’s seen as anti-establishment, used to be in all likelihood to get the upper hand in the runoff.

« That is thanks to a straightforward truth, » he told Al Jazeera from London.

« The huge majority of the Liberian inhabitants, 70 % of it, is below 35. And he’s garnering the childhood votes very critically.

« So I derive this would possibly per chance well per chance also be George Weah as president. » 

Observers, on the other hand, are fearful that the shedding candidate can also impartial contest the results, he mentioned, adding: « It be vital for Liberia that the [losing candidate] would now not sail for a perpetual advise thru the courts. »

The eventual winner faces a tough avenue ahead, analyts tell. 

Adama Gaye, a former legitimate at the West African physique ECOWAS, mentioned the nation’s novel chief will have to kind out « a truly delicate anguish » in the wake of the Ebola disaster in Liberia, which killed 1000’s between 2014 and 2016, as nicely as a descend in commodity prices for the nation’s predominant exports of rubber and iron ore. 

He praised Sirleaf for her work, but mentioned the nation « has no longer been making growth on jobs, unemployment and attracting funding the nation wants for infrastructure ».

Miatta Fahnbulleh, a musician and activist, mentioned she hoped the extra « tolerant social gathering wins » Tuesday’s election.

Liberians are « ready with bated breath » for the results, she mentioned, adding: « If the faulty loser loses, we are in a position to also impartial no longer delight in peace for a while. »