Liberia’s National Election Commission (NEC) will today begin its Voters Registration Exercise. Photo: UNMIL/Shpend Berbatovci

Liberia’s National Election Commission (NEC) will today begin its Voters Registration Exercise.
President George Weah announced in January that he would run for reelection after a term
plagued by corruption allegations and economic downturn. Despite encouraging citizens to
register to vote and ensure credible elections, Weah’s government has not directly addressed
concerns that the government is working alongside the NEC, compromising the validity of
Liberia’s electoral process.

Opposition parties have questioned the credibility of results from a recent national census
report, and also drawn attention to the NEC ruling out the use of biometrics in registration
processes. Growing tensions from within Liberia’s parliament threaten to obstruct the
election process with the Movement for Democratic Reconstruction, led by Senator Prince
Johnson, an ally of Weah, withdrawing support for Weah’s Congress for Democratic
Change (CDC) ruling party.

With Weah keen to remain in power, and growing concerns about the potential for elections
to be manipulated in his favor, further delays to the election process may pose a major
constitutional crisis for Liberia if no government is elected before Weah’s tenure comes to a
close in January. Political violence is also a possibility, with three reported attempts to
assassinate former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Gloria Musu-Scott.