ONE can’t help but feel disappointed as we witness the predatory actions of the United States and its NATO allies, who often thrive on chaos and strife in their relentless pursuit of human and natural resources. We’ve seen this pattern in the Congo, Haiti, and more recently in Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso. The nations of Africa must unite under the banner of ‘THE LOVE OF LIBERTY UNITES US’ to assert self-determination and address the pressing need for decolonisation and development on our own terms.
As Liberia concludes its elections, I find myself hoping for a clear and decisive victory that eliminates the need for a runoff. Threatening sanctions against George Weah and the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) at this juncture risks turning the elections into a ‘do or die’ affair, making it difficult for the losing side to accept defeat.
The EU, with its wealth of experience, should be aware that stoking sentiments during a transitional interregnum period, when the levers of power are still held by the accused, in this case, George Weah, is a mischievous move at best. Such actions can disrupt the fragile balance that Liberia desperately needs right now.
It’s important for us to consider the situation in Sierra Leone, where government functions have been impaired by the All People’s Congress (APC) opposition’s boycott of parliament and acts of non-cooperation with the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government. In the midst of this political strife, multinational companies are busy extracting the country’s resources, and the guardians of the nation are at odds with each other. The mercenaries, known as Executive Outcomes, have secured mining concessions that were facilitated by President Kabbah and Tony Blair.
Liberia, with its history of diplomacy and internecine warfare, is more than capable of addressing its own challenges. We must all act with prudence to ensure that peace prevails. This is a fundamental national security interest that we must prioritise.
Let us focus on the path to unity, stability, and the well-being of our beloved Liberia. The question remains, why is the EU intervening at this precise moment? We must consider whether this is an act of genuine concern or an unnecessary disruption to the democratic process.
Akyaaba Addai-Sebo, as Special Envoy of International Alert, was instrumental in mediating dialogue between warring factions to help bring the civil conflicts in Liberia and Sierra Leone to an end. To achieve this he worked with ECOWAS, the Federal Military Government of Nigeria, La Côte d’Ivoire, the OAU and the UN