Political stability in three of Liberia’s neighbors, mainly Ivory Coast and Guinea, international observers, UNMIL, and other stakeholders believe, would mean a sustainable peace in a country where destabilization of the sub-region originated.  

So far so good, international election observers have declared Sierra Leone’s polls free, fair and credible. “There is a relatively peaceful atmosphere and morale is high amongst Sierra Leoneans,” an international observer said. Overall, the behavior of Sierra Leoneans during campaign and on voting day, has won international acclamation.   

Though final results are not in, observers think the results may be either protested peacefully or accepted by defeated parties. Sierra Leone has survived for six years now since hostilities ceased in 2001. The first elections held in Sierra Leone were directly facilitated by UNMIL. Sierra Leone has been peaceful since 2001.  

Guinea and Ivory Coast, the two countries bordering Liberia and Sierra Leone and larger than the latter, are currently subjected to military and dictatorial rules; Ivory Coast is in a state of rebellion.

Voting in Sierra Leone

Voting in Liberia

Guinea

In Guinea, Mr. Conte took power in a military coup 23 years ago, and there have been unrests and political instability throughout his rein.

Mr. Conte had faced calls to step down from unions over his handling of the economy and because of his poor health. Several people were killed by security forces firing on protesters.  

Food prices were raised sharply in the capital, Conakry. There were shortages of staple foods including rice and bread. Hundreds of people are said to have been arrested since the strike began. Speaking on state radio in the local Sousssou language, Mr Conte insisted his time in office was not yet over.  

Mr Conte seized power in a 1984 coup but has since won three elections. He is in his 70s but suffers from diabetes.

Ivory Coast

Ivory Coast’s trouble started when she experienced her first military coup. On December 25, 1999, General Guei ousted Bedie, who was forced to flee to France. Following the bloodless takeover, Guei formed a new government and promised to hold open elections in late 2000.  

Tensions increased when the general's handpicked Supreme Court disqualified all of the candidates from the two major parties by establishing the criteria that all candidates must have two Ivorian parents and never held a nationality of another country. This barred Ouattara and his Rally of Republicans party, or Rassemblement des Republicaines (RDR), from running after courts declared that his mother was from Burkina Faso.  

The RDR called for a boycott, setting the stage for low election turnout in a race between Guei and Front Populaire Ivoirien (FPI) candidate Laurent Gbagbo. When early polling results showed Gbagbo in the lead, Guei stopped the process, claimed polling fraud, disbanded the election commission, and declared himself the winner. 

Within hours Gbagbo supporters took to the streets of Abidjan, the main port of the Ivory Coast. A bloody fight followed as crowds attacked the guards protecting the presidential palace. Many gendarmes and soldiers joined the fight against the junta government, forcing Guei to flee.  

Gbagbo, who was thought to have been the real winner of the election, was declared President. Having been excluded from the election, Ouattara’s supporters, the RDR, took the streets calling for new elections. More violence erupted as forces loyal to the new government joined the FPI youth to attack RDR demonstrators. Hundreds were killed in the few days that followed before Ouattara called for peace and recognized the Gbagbo presidency.  

On January 7, 2001, another coup attempt shattered the temporary calm. However in March of 2001, Ouattara and Gbagbo met for the first time following the violence between their supporters and agreed to work together towards reconciliation.

Local municipal elections later that month were conducted without violence and with the full participation of all political parties. 

The RDR, that had boycotted the presidential and legislative elections, won most of the local seats, followed by the Democratic Party of Cote d'Ivoire (PDCI) which was the party of former President Bedie, and the FPI. Some economic aid from the European Union began to return by the summer of 2001, and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) re-engaged the government. Questions remained surrounding severe human rights abuses by the government during the presidential and legislative elections of 2000.  

Once such instance occurred at Yopougon where police allegedly rounded up and executed 57 northerners during an election campaign in 2000. All the officers involved in the incident were acquitted.  

In August 2002, President Gbagbo formed a de facto government of national unity that included the RDR party. The rivalry between the government and rebels had divided the country and drawn international attention. A large number of UN troops are present there. France, a former colonist of Ivory Coast also has troop in the Ivory Coast. The situation there is presently “No wars no peace” but remains a threat to sub-regional security. 

Liberian former warlord, Charles Taylor used Ivory Coast as a corridor to enter Liberia with arms, ammunition, and mercenaries in 1989. Ivorian government did not contribute combat troops to Liberia throughout Liberia’s civil war.  

Liberia’s former warlord, Charles Taylor accused Guinea several times of dissident activities emanating from Guinea to Liberia. Investigative reports said LURD was sponsored by Guinea through ECOWAS and former colonists that wanted Taylor out at all costs because he was a threat to the region.  

Meanwhile, West African politicians, and the international community are urging Guinea and Ivory Coast to emulate the good examples of their neighbors and restore normalcy to the region.

Writes,
Thomas Kai Toteh
Senior Staff Writer