Report on the human rights issues in the context of General Elections and Presidential run-off in Liberia

Summary

 General elections were held in Liberia on 10 October 2023 to elect the President, House of Representatives and half of the Senate. In the run-off election on 14 November, Joseh Boakai (of the Unity Party) defeated incumbent President George Weah (of the Coalition for Democratic Change) by just over one percentage point in the closest runoff in Liberia’s history and Weah conceded the election peacefully. President Weah established a Joint Presidential Transitional Team on November 22 to manage the power transition, which concluded with the inauguration of President Boakai and VicePresident Jeremiah Koung on January 22, 2024. These elections, the first primarily organized by Liberia without significant international support, were praised internationally, setting an example for other African countries. The present OHCHR report provides an overview of human rights issues observed during the electoral period. It focuses on arbitrary arrests and detentions, violations of freedom of opinion and expression, hate speech and incitement to violence, violations of rights to peaceful assembly, and violations of the right to freedom of movement. It also examines the participation of women and persons with disabilities in Liberia's 2023 elections, highlighting challenges and initiatives for inclusion. The report also highlights the catalytic role OHCHR played within the United Nations Country Team to ensure that a human rights-based approach was applied throughout the electoral process. Recommendations are provided to the Liberian Government and the international community to strengthen electoral processes and ensure accountability for human rights violations.