Ballot counting was underway in Liberia on Tuesday in a run-off election between President George Weah and former vice president Joseph Boakai, in what is expected to be a closely fought vote.
Many voters said they were underwhelmed by Weah’s first term, which has been dogged by graft scandals and persistent poverty in Africa’s oldest independent republic.
Boakai said on Tuesday that it was normal for the runoff to have a lower turnout, but said Weah’s party was “panicking” and trying to stop ballots being cast, without providing details.
No major incidents were reported on Tuesday, with calm and order prevailing at various voting centres, said a team of observers from the Economic Community of West African States.
The electoral commission flagged rumours about pre-marked ballots on social media and said it was “fake news” to discourage voters.
He has cult-like support in many areas, inspired by his rise from a Monrovia slum to international soccer stardom, but he has been unable to ease widespread poverty or stamp out corruption.
The economy grew 4.8% in 2022, driven by gold production and a relatively good harvest, but more than 80% of the population still face moderate or severe food insecurity, the World Bank said in July.
The original article contains 644 words, the summary contains 173 words. Saved 73%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
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Many voters said they were underwhelmed by Weah’s first term, which has been dogged by graft scandals and persistent poverty in Africa’s oldest independent republic.
Boakai said on Tuesday that it was normal for the runoff to have a lower turnout, but said Weah’s party was “panicking” and trying to stop ballots being cast, without providing details.
No major incidents were reported on Tuesday, with calm and order prevailing at various voting centres, said a team of observers from the Economic Community of West African States.
The electoral commission flagged rumours about pre-marked ballots on social media and said it was “fake news” to discourage voters.
He has cult-like support in many areas, inspired by his rise from a Monrovia slum to international soccer stardom, but he has been unable to ease widespread poverty or stamp out corruption.
The economy grew 4.8% in 2022, driven by gold production and a relatively good harvest, but more than 80% of the population still face moderate or severe food insecurity, the World Bank said in July.
The original article contains 644 words, the summary contains 173 words. Saved 73%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!