Liberia Roundup: Concession, visa applications, health concerns
Congratulations for Boakai
Liberia has received commendation from the international community following the successful election of a new government, the New Dawn Liberia reports. This comes after former Vice President Joseph Boakai’s victory over the incumbent President George Weah after the country held a runoff election on November 14, 2023. According to the international community in Liberia, the move marks a new chapter in their democratic dispensation.
Health concerns over abortions
An estimated 40,000 abortions happen in Liberia annually, a former Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator in the Bureau for Global Health at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has said. Dr. Monique Wubbenhorst said this during a training workshop on the empowerment of the local faith community campaign on comprehensive sex education (CSE). Meanwhile, Liberian lawmakers are preparing a bill to expand access to abortion, which is currently subject to tight restrictions that many women circumvent through clandestine and dangerous means Global News Network Liberia reports.
Ecowas speaks on Liberia runoff
ECOWAS has congratulated Liberia’s Joseph Boakai following his victory in the just-ended runoff held on November 14. The West African regional body said that the peaceful nature of the elections is evidence that the country still upholds its democratic credentials. It further pledged support towards the maintenance and security of citizens, Global News Network Liberia reports
Visa Application Center
Liberians and other foreign nationals who intend to visit France now have easy access to a new application centre opened in Monrovia. This is the second in the country and was commissioned by Deputy French Ambassador to Liberia Sebastine Jondot on November 17, 2023. Applicants may expect an average processing time of two to three weeks while processing time for long-stay visa applications will have to take several months to process, The New Dawn Liberia reports.
Weah concedes defeat
Liberia’s President Dr. George Weah has conceded defeat after his opponent, Joseph Boakai won the runoff elections on November 14, 2023. In a speech released on Saturday, November 18, Weah congratulated Boakai and the Electoral Commission. He also urged all Liberians to place patriotism over a party to maintain peace in the country.
