“Liberia’s October 2011 general and presidential elections, the second since civil war ended in 2003, are an opportunity
to consolidate its fragile peace and nascent democracy. Peaceful, free and fair elections depend on how well the National Elections Commission (NEC) handles the challenges of the 23 August referendum on constitutional
amendments and opposition perceptions of bias toward the president’s Unity Party (UP). The NEC, the government, political parties, presidential candidates, civil society, media and international partners each have roles to play to strengthen trust in the electoral process. They should
fight the temptation to treat the elections as not crucial for
sustaining the progress made since the civil war. But even
after good elections five factors will be critical to lasting
peace: a more convincing fight against corruption; deeper
commitment to transforming Liberia with a new breed of reform-minded political players; sustained international engagement in supporting this more ambitious transformation; economic development; and regional stability, particularly in Côte d’Ivoire.”
