The two main candidates George Weah and Joseph Boakai continue to be neck and neck. But based on 98.50% of the ballots counted, we can already say that there will be a second round of voting. It is scheduled to take place at the beginning of November.
Published on: October 17, 2023 – 9:37 p.m
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With our correspondent in the region, Bineta Diagne
According to the latest results from the National Electoral Commission (CNE) George Weah received 43.79% of the votes. He is closely followed by Joseph Boakai, who is credited with 43.49% of the vote.
The results are therefore too close for there to be a winner in the first round. According to electoral law, to win the election in the first round you must receive at least 51% of the votes.
incidents
This Tuesday, at the beginning of the press conference, Davidetta Browne-Lansana, president of the CNE, clarified that ballot papers were missing because, according to her, ballot boxes had been destroyed.
On Friday, that official mentioned an incident in Saino County where results reports were stolen. Suspected perpetrators were arrested.
Incidents of this kind seem to slow down the overall announcement of results. An announcement that has been keeping the country in suspense for several days and is pushing the US observation mission forward ECOWAS to issue a press release calling for calm. This mission calls on political parties to avoid early announcements of results in order to reduce tensions surrounding the National Electoral Commission.