In the wake of serious criticisms from President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s own ruling Unity Party (UP) and others that threaten to undermine her legacy, former US Ambassador to Liberia says people “must recognize and acknowledge” the outgoing Liberian President’s legacy.
Sirleaf’s ruling Up has claimed she’s lost her credibility by spearheading massive fraud and irregularities in the October 10, 2017 presidential and legislative elections, while opposition Liberty Party (LP) leader Charles Brumskine also linked the President to election fraud.
But Brumskine went further to say on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) last week that he’s different from her by peacefully taking his challenge of the polls to court. The LP leader then said Sirleaf brought war to Liberia after the 1985 election, after accusing former President Samuel Kanyon Doe of rigging the polls.
In an opinion piece published recently on the allafrica.com website, Thomas Greenfield questioned the intent of those criticizing Sirleaf’s legacy after nearly 12 years of putting Liberia back on track, as she “inherited a country that was completely broken by civil war.”
Without naming the critics of Africa’s first elected female president’s legacy, the former American envoy said “whoever is elected must define a vision and a mission and commitment to take Liberia to the next level of development.”
President Sirleaf through the Minister of Information Lenn Eugene Nagbe later debunked the claims made by Brumskine, describing him as a failed politician who has thrice miserably failed to get the vote of Liberians as President.
SEE BELOW FULL TEXT OF THE FORMER US AMBASSDOR’S OPINION PIECE:
GUEST COLUMNBy Linda Thomas-Greenfield
Liberia: Sirleaf’s Legacy and the New President’s Challenge
In the second round of historical presidential elections, Liberians must ask themselves what they have to gain and what they stand to lose if they do not get this right. Here are some of the things which should be on their minds and on the candidates’ agendas.
First they must recognize and acknowledge President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s legacy, in order to have a clear, rational idea of both past gains and the challenges ahead.
Second they must commit to a free, fair, and peaceful electoral process that reflects the will of the people of Liberia, whatever decision the voters make.
And third, whoever is elected must define a vision and a mission and commitment to take Liberia to the next level of development.
If those if those who claim to be leaders take their leadership seriously and represent the people and not themselves, Liberia has the potential to rise from the ashes of its complex and convoluted history to become a respected and influential player in the region, on the continent and around the globe.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf inherited a country that was completely broken by civil war. The country had no revenue to speak of and almost all public funds had been looted. Violence had become the norm. It was in crushing debt. Infrastructure was lacking. Liberia was a pariah state in the region, on the continent and around the globe.
What did she accomplish? She should be recognized for maintaining and solidifying the fragile peace that came out of the 2003 peace deal, not an easy task when ex-warlords, some in the legislature, threatened to take the country back to war each time they were unhappy.
She brought investors back to Liberia. Unprecedentedly, she gained support for debt forgiveness and an end to the demands of vulture funds holders. She boldly attacked the unexpected Ebola epidemic that set her agenda back. She brought back respect to Liberia and Liberians, who had been the embarrassment of the region. She called for women to be full participants in national decision making. She won a Nobel Peace Prize. She made Liberia a regional player, serving as head of ECOWAS, taking the bold decision to demand the departure of The Gambia’s longtime dictator.
Was she perfect? No. Could she have done better and more? Of course. Did she make mistakes? Absolutely – even the best presidents elsewhere have done so. Is there more work to be done? Yes.
What she did was lay the foundation for Liberia’s future, a foundation that could be lost if the next election does not go smoothly and the next president focuses on her mistakes, instead of coming with an enhanced vision and a plan for moving Liberia forward.
Being president of any country is not an easy job, particularly one with the history that Liberia has. Liberians should be asking those running for president why they want to be president and demand a satisfactory answer before they agree to give them the most valuable possession they have – their vote.
Who among the two candidates can build on Sirleaf’s legacy, using a vision of inclusiveness, and take Liberia to the next level? Who among them can learn from her mistakes and make even better choices than she did? Which of them will build a future for the next generation and, at the end of their term, turn over to their successor a better Liberia than the one they found?
In the forthcoming presidential election run-off, no Liberian should die or be injured in the name of the candidate they support. Candidates and their supporters must publicly commit to a peaceful and fair process and to accept the results, whoever the people choose. Any disagreements must be taken to the courts.
This election is the first opportunity since the end of the civil war for Liberians to show the world that they are ready for prime time. All eyes will be watching and no one wants to see Liberia succeed more than myself. Liberians can do it, if only the politicians will allow them to.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, a retired Foreign Service officer of the United States government, was U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs from 2013 to 2017 and ambassador to Liberia from 2008 to 2012. The opinions and characterizations in this piece are those of the author, and do not necessarily represent official positions of the U.S. government.