Owusu on Africa: Liberia achieves the “two turnover test” post-Civil War – good for a region facing political instability

By Fidel Amakye Owusu

In the 1950s, 60s and 70s, when many countries in West Africa faced political instability and concomitant economic decay, Liberia was one of the most stable countries in the region.​

Unfortunately, in 1980, Liberia experienced its first successful coup d’état led by a junior officer, Samuel Doe. This was a major shake to the political system that had its structural challenges.​

The country’s special history granted it independence in the 19th century, meaning that it had been stable for over 130 years before it experienced military rule. The Doe administration’s disposition and a rebellion that had emerged in response finally plunged the country into a brutal civil war that remains of of the most macabre in Africa’s history.​

The war lasted from the early 1990s until the early 2000s. It took an audacious intervention of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to achieve peace.​

Afterwards, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf became the first post-war president when she led the Unity Party to victory in 2006. The first female executive president in Africa had two terms before leaving office. She handed over to an opposition party that won the election against her Vice President Joseph Boakai.​

Smooth transfer of power

And so what?​

The current Liberian president George Weah has conceded defeat to his opponent in a run-off election. Interestingly, Joseph Boakai – who lost the 2018 elections to Weah – has won the current elections. President Weah conceded defeat before the final official results were declared. This is good.​

Why?​

Once again, West Africa and other regions in the continent are experiencing a resurgence in the prevalence of coups d’etat. In the last three years, several military putsches have occurred on the Continent. While insecurity has been used to “justify” some of these coups, others have been a result of personalization of power and overstays of leaders.​

The long-term stability of Liberia would depend on providing essential socio-economic development and building the capacity of youths to play consequential roles in the country.

This makes what has started in Liberia as a smooth transfer of power from one civilian administration to another important.​

Most importantly an important test for democratization has been satisfied in Liberia. What is called the two-turnover test where a country achieves two conservative turnovers of power without disruption is achieved. Not so many countries have achieved this in Africa.​

This notwithstanding, the long-term stability of Liberia would depend on providing essential socio-economic development and building the capacity of youths to play consequential roles in the country. The creation of jobs and social inclusion should be prioritized.​

Liberia has done it.

Fidel Amakye Owusu is an International Relations and Security Analyst. He is an Associate at the Conflict Research Consortium for Africa and has previously hosted an International Affairs program with the Ghana Broadcasting Corporation (GBC). He is passionate about Diplomacy and realizing Africa’s global potential and how the continent should be viewed as part of the global collective.