Liberia in the News

If you're interested in following what's happening in Liberia post Presidential Election, here are a few articles worth reading:

Liberia’s President Wins Boycotted Runoff Vote in the New York Times

Liberia's Sirleaf Wins 90 Pct in Boycotted Vote ABC News via the Associated Press

The articles above convey some of the facts surrounding the election pretty well. Yet, they fail to communicate the escalating political unrest post election in Liberia. Here are some that reveal this:

Liberian Broadcasters to Make Court Appearance, say Lives Threatened by Voice of America

ELWA Radio Station Gutted By Fire by Heritage (a Liberian paper) (This is especially disheartening as SIM maintains ELWA and has provided a great deal of Christian-based training and resources in Liberia for many, many years. They are well known and respected by the Liberian community.)

From what I have experienced in my limited interactions with government officials in Liberia, I don't see this ending well. There is a pride and desire for power coupled with a need to show how much power one possesses that makes reconciliation or power sharing extremely difficult to achieve. Unless Tubman is uncharacteristically moved to give up his desire for power in order to achieve peace in Liberia, I believe the unrest will escalate quickly. With 80% unemployment, there are an awful lot of young men who could be convinced pretty easily to fight.