Monrovia (Fides Service)- “There is expectation and hope for the future. People know tomorrow’s vote will be decisive in the country’s history” said local Church sources in Monrovia capital of Liberia about to hold the first presidential elections since before the civil war which ended in 2003.
“The electoral campaign ended yesterday at midnight and today all is calm as we wait for the polling stations to open tomorrow. In Monrovia the campaign closed with large gatherings, singing and dancing in the streets” the local sources said.
“A nine day novena of prayer for a good outcome of the election involving Catholics all over the country ended on Sunday 9 October. The Catholic Bishops have issued a statement encouraging citizens to vote and to choose the best candidate irrespective of ethnic origin” the sources said.
“The election is a landmark even for Liberia. People have had enough of war and want at last to live with dignity and it was probably thanks to the wisdom of the people that the campaign was peaceful and without violence. People are expected to vote en masse because everyone wants peace and stability” the sources concluded.
Liberia, Africa’s first free republic founded in 1847 in colonial times and once envied for its prosperity is today a mass of ruins, industries and exports of prime materials - rubber, timber, diamonds and minerals - are still struggling and the unemployment rate is about 80% particularly among young people who have never known what it is to live in peace. Besides the president the electors will vote 94 MPs. Hundreds of international observers are arriving to monitor the vote: these include mission sent by the European Union, African Union the United States, the Economic Community of West African countries, and various NGOs. Some 15,000 UN peace keepers and a thousand UN police will be stationed at polling stations.
The 22 candidates for Presidency include former footballer George Weah and former minister and World Bank economist Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf who has years of experience as directress of the Africa section of the UN Development Programme UNDP. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 10/10/2005 righe 35 parole 465)