Liberians Go to Polls in Runoff Election
Liberian presidential candidates George Weah, left, and Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR hide caption
A young Liberian boy stands in front of an election campaign poster outside the National Elections Commission headquarters in Monrovia. Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR hide caption
A young Liberian boy stands in front of an election campaign poster outside the National Elections Commission headquarters in Monrovia.
Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPRRelated NPR Stories
Liberians elect their next president in a runoff election Tuesday. The contenders are Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who would be the first woman elected head of state in Africa, and George Weah, who became famous as an international soccer player.
STEVE INSKEEP, host:
Liberia votes today for a president. The winner's job is to lead the recovery from a devastating civil war in the country founded by freed American slaves. One candidate is an international soccer star. Another wants to become Africa's first elected female head of state, and she's known as the Iron Lady. NPR's Ofeibea Quist-Arcton reports.
OFEIBEA QUIST-ARCTON reporting:
In Liberia, where security remains a top priority after the 14-year civil war, most people are praying for a peaceful presidential election today. But the 15,000 United Nations peacekeepers here are taking no chances. Alan Doss is the head of UNMIL, the UN Mission in Liberia.
Mr. ALAN DOSS (UN Mission in Liberia): We will be very present, and I've said on several occasions, I repeat it now, that UNMIL would react robustly to any effort to disrupt electoral process before, during and after. I hope that will not be needed. I'm convinced that the people of Liberia on the 8th of November will turn out to vote for peace.
QUIST-ARCTON: That message from the UN is all over the airwaves here in Liberia. So, too, are promos like this urging Liberians to go out and vote.
(Soundbite of ad)
Unidentified Child: Mama.
Unidentified Woman: Yes, missy.
Unidentified Child: Are going to vote for the soccer man?
QUIST-ARCTON: 1.3 million Liberians are eligible to vote for their new leader in the second-round runoff presidential poll and hopes are high for peace in this West African nation, where war has ruined the economy and the infrastructure. George Weah won the first round of voting last month. His international soccer career saw him named the world's soccer supremo back in 1995. Although Weah has little formal education and no political experience, Liberia's defeated presidential hopefuls, like Winston Tubman(ph), have enthusiastically lined up behind George Weah.
Mr. WINSTON TUBMAN (George Weah Supporter): George Weah, in a very short time, has had a huge impact in Liberia. Many, many young people are committed to him. The older politicians have polarized the country. This is not about individuals; this is about Liberia.
QUIST-ARCTON: Facing George Weah in Liberia's presidential election ring is feisty 67-year-old grandmother and veteran opposition politician Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. `Mama Ellen' became the rallying cry at her campaign stops.
(Soundbite of chanting)
Unidentified Woman: We see our president coming! We see her coming!
QUIST-ARCTON: Sirleaf Johnson has been in government before and has worked at the World Bank and United Nations. Her previous bid for the presidency in 1997 failed, but if she succeeds this time, Johnson Sirleaf would become Africa's first elected female head of state, and she's excited about the prospect.
Ms. ELLEN JOHNSON SIRLEAF (Liberia's Presidential Hopeful): And I think all the African women today are just sitting on the edge of their chairs waiting for this to happen, because that's going to open the doors. (Unintelligible) for history, and African women are just waiting for this to happen.
QUIST-ARCTON: Whoever wins, the challenges ahead are the same for both: ensuring lasting peace for Liberians, reviving the economy and creating jobs as well as restoring running water, electricity and a functioning telephone system. Ofeibea Quist-Arcton, NPR News, Monrovia.
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