Selected recent developments and news stories from Liberia, Burundi, Central African Republic, Guinea and Sierra Leone.
Liberia
Burundi
Central African Republic
Guinea
Sierra Leone
Liberia
Preliminary Results of Elections
The Preliminary Progressive Results from Liberia’s presidential elections, reported by the National Elections Commission (NEC) on Friday, 14 October, indicates that incumbent President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (UP) and former justice minister Winston Tubman (CDC) may have a second-round, run-off election. Sirleaf is leading with 45.4% of the votes, Tubman is in second place with 29.5% of the votes, and Prince Yormie Johnson (NUDP) is in third place with 11.4% of the votes.
The current Election Law states that elections to the office of President and Vice President will be conducted in two rounds. The first round will be determined by an absolute majority (fifty percent plus one vote). In the absence of an absolute majority, the two candidates with the highest number of votes will participate in a second ballot, the run-off election. The candidate who receives the highest number of votes in the run-off election will be elected.
The candidate with the third highest votes is important in the second-round run-off because that candidate’s endorsement can help one of the leading candidates receive the absolute majority of votes. Senator Prince Y. Johnson is, thus far, the third place finisher. Johnson has stated that he has requested a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) from each leading candidate that will show a government of inclusion. However, both Sirleaf and Tubman are expecting to win the preliminary election and have not planned for a second-round run-off.
The Carter Center election observation mission reported that the elections were peaceful and the voters were enthusiastic and calm during the voting process. Party agents played a big role in enhancing transparency and credibility of the voting and counting process. Times Live announced that the voter turnout was around 70.2%, about 1.8 million voters. Final results of the first ballot will be released on 26 October.
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Sirleaf Wins Nobel Peace Prize
On Friday, 7 October, Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, along with Leymah Gbowee fromLiberia and activist Tawakkul Karman from Yemen, won the Nobel Peace Prize for advocating women’s rights. Sirleaf’s supporters have commended her for maintaining peace in the country, post civil war. However, Sirleaf has been criticized for her inability to improve human rights conditions in the country, specifically her inability to provide clean drinking water. Her opposition, Winston Tubman of the Congress for Democratic Change party, claimed that the prize served as a disadvantage for Sirleaf’s re-election because Liberians do not share the view of the international world that Sirleaf helped end the civil war.
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Violence on Liberia – Ivory Coast Border
Following Cote d’Ivoire’s election crisis this spring, Liberian mercenaries have been involved in ongoing violence and crime in the west-Ivoirian region of Guiglo. In the wake of post-election clashes between Gbagbo and Ouattara supporters, the presence of Liberian mercenaries have contributed to ongoing tension in the region and has slowed the process of reintegration of many civilians who fled their homes in western Cote d’Ivoire during the crisis.
On Thursday, 15 September Liberian mercenaries reportedly clashed with members of the Republican Forces of Ivory Coast (FRCI), leaving 23 people dead. It is unclear if the victims were soldiers or civilians. West African leaders urged the UN and ECOWAS to increase monitoring at the Liberia-Cote d’Ivoire border. Leaders of Guinea, Ivory Coast, Liberia and Sierra Leone are concerned that the instability at the border is a threat for the West African region.
UN peacekeepers began the process of strengthening security at the border in preparation for the 11 October Liberian elections. Liberia also deployed a special operations force, specially trained in riot and crowd control, to strengthen internal security.
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Renewal of UNMIL Mandate
On 16 September, the United Nations Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) for another twelve months. With Presidential elections less than a month away, the Security Council expressed the need for its continued presence, and stressed the importance of allowing the Liberian government and its people to focus on its internal security.
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Burundi
Attack Spurs Fears of Resumed Violence
On September 18, Monday, alleged “bandits” disguised as military officials raided ‘Chez les Amiz’ bar in Gatumba, about 15 kilometers west of the capital Bujumbura. The raid left more than 40 people dead and many wounded. Hospitals were overwhelmed with the injuries and had difficulty coping with the situation, leaving many untreated for an extended period of time. Relief Web reported that Agathon Rwasa, a former leader of the Hutu rebel movement, National Liberation Forces (FNL), may be linked to the unexpected attack, however, no evidence has emerged to solidify the claim.
In recent months, Rwasa has accused President Pierre Nkurunziza’s party of carrying out attacks against the rebel group and its members. The bar in which the attack took place belongs to a member of the ruling party and at the time of the incident, was occupied by the Espoir FC football team, affiliated to the ruling party’s youth league. Many Burundians viewed the incident as a sign of possible resurgence of civil war in the country.
Notably, this violent attack has brought to light underlying instability in Burundi’s political system. After a twelve-year civil war between the minority Tutsi-dominated army and Hutu rebels, the country was able to officially end the conflict through a peace agreement in 2005. However, rebel attacks throughout the years continued to threaten the stability of national peace. In a report released in December of last year, Security-General Ban Ki-moon explained that the security situation was still an issue in Burundi, despite its relative stability over 2010. This recent incident, the worst attack the country has seen in over a year, evidences escalating political tension in Burundi. The conflict between the National Liberation Forces (FNL) and the National Council for the Defense of Democracy – Forces for the Defense of Democracy (NCDD) and the continuing marginalization of the opposition against the government continue to jeopardize Burundi’s process of establishing a stable peace in the country.
The Burundian government announced the launch of an investigation to discover the perpetrators of the attack, yet the international community remains concerned. As the spokeswoman for the UN Office on Human Rights, Ravina Shamdasani explained to AFP on Friday, the shooting occurred in “a context of increased tension, marked by a series of extra-judicial killings that appeared to be mainly aimed at activists of the opposition National Liberation Front." Despite the government’s past efforts to investigate other killings in Burundi, OHCHR expressed concern about its track record in prosecution… anything else to add?
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Central African Republic
Conflict over Diamonds Leaves 43 Dead
Fighting resumed in the Central African Republic (CAR) on Sunday, 11 September in the central town of Bria, leaving 43 people dead and dozens wounded after rival groups clashed over control of diamond mines in the region. The death toll is expected to rise, as the intensity of the fighting escalates.
Rival rebel groups, Convention of Patriots of Justice and Peace (CPJP) and the Union of Democratic Forces for Unity (UFDR), agreed to a ceasefire (June 2011) and signed a peace agreement with the government of CAR in 2007, respectively. Though details remain unclear, this recent fighting has been attributed to ‘bandits’ still loyal to the two rebel causes.
President Francois Bozize, in response to media criticism of the government’s actions in the conflict, told the national assembly that he was not responsible for the clashes.
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Guinea
Police Repress Opposition Party Demonstrators
On Tuesday, 27 September and Wednesday, 28 September opposition party supporters of the Union of the Democratic Forces of Guinea (UDFG), trying to join a march in the streets of Conakry, were met with police hostility. Parliamentary police released tear gas and used batons against the protestors, while protestors threw rocks at the security forces, leaving at least three people dead. Security forces have arrested 322 protestors on grounds ranging from protesting despite a ban on public gatherings to homicide.
The protestors were demonstrating against the suspect preparations for the 29 December parliamentary elections. Amnesty International urged Guinean authorities to investigate the deaths of the three protestors killed on Tuesday. State Department Spokesman Victoria Nuland warned that this violence could threaten Guinea’s developing democracy. This is the first demonstration Guinea has had since the 2010 elections.
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New Mining Code Brings Controversy
Guinea is one the world’s biggest exporter of the aluminum ore bauxite, yet it remains one of the poorest counties in Africa. A new mining code established on 9 September is meant to make more money available for development, while helping fight systemic corruption. The new code gives the government a free 15 percent share in companies and the option of buying another 20 percent, allowing the state to invest up to 35 percent in commodity companies.
Many outside investors are concerned about the regulations stipulated in the new code and the higher costs it will require investors to contribute. The government of Guinea, however, defends the mining reforms, which were promised in the 2010 December elections. Prime Minister Mohmed Said Fofana claims that the code will ultimately promote greater accountability from investors by requiring financial transparency and will combat corruption by making it more difficult for outside companies to bribe state officials. Investors will be required to sign a code of good conduct, officially agreeing not to take part in corrupt practices. In addition, the new mining code will require reports on environmental and social impacts of the companies.
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Sierra Leone
Renewal of UNIPSIL Mandate and Election Tensions
On 14 September, the Security Council extended the mandate of the UN Integrated Peacebuilding Office in Sierra Leone (UNIPSIL) until 15 September 2012. Council members expressed their continued support for the mission and noted UNIPSIL’s important role in maintaining peace duringSierra Leone’s upcoming elections in 2012.
Political tensions have been steadily rising as proponents from the two main political parties of Sierra Leone, the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) and the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), have been linked to incidents of political violence.
On Wednesday, 21 September, Sierra Leone’s army chief, Major General Yirra Koroma issued an order to soldiers to remain non-partisan during political activities in order to maintain peacekeeping efforts. However, political unrest stemming from two of Sierra Leone’s major cities, Bo (in the south) and Kono (in the east) and the possibility of more attacks led to a police ban on all political rallies, issued on 22 September. The language of the official ban stated that all political meetings must be held in private in political party offices until further notice, as the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has not issued dates for the election.
In an effort to maintain peace through the election process, Inspector General Francis Alieu Munu and the Police Executive Board will meet with the four registered parties to discuss strategies for avoiding political violence while campaigning. The APC, SLPP, PMDC and NDA have issued comments in support of ending violence.
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Country: Sierra Leone,
Guinea-Bissau,
Central African Republic,
Burundi,
Subregion - West Africa,
Subregion - East Africa,
Regional - Africa,
Liberia,
GuineaThemes: Peace Process,
Economic Recovery
