Pre-election Craziness

United Nations helicopters are currently circling the area around my apartment.

My apartment is five minutes from the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) headquarters. They have been alleging fraud in the first round of elections (held October 11) ever since it was clear they didn’t win. Last week they decided to boycott the runoff elections scheduled for tomorrow, November 8.

In Liberia, no campaigning is allowed the day before elections; it is a day of rest and reflection before voting. The CDC decided to disregard this and hold a rally anyway. The LNP (Liberian National Police) informed them this would not be permitted. They went ahead held the rally. Reports of the numbers in attendance vary from hundreds to thousands, but apparently they tried to block off the road and the riot police and UN were called in. Tear gas was used. Shots were fired. At least one person is dead; several others are wounded.

It was crazy because about an hour before I was in the car with some friends from the office and we were on the way back there, driving on the main road – the road that also leads to the CDC HQ. While stuck in traffic, we saw masses of people heading in the direction of the CDC. We also saw 4 police trucks zoom by – one almost swiped us. We felt trouble was brewing.  

When we got back to the office, we heard that shots were being fired near the CDC headquarters. We decided to close the office early. Since I live five minutes away from the CDC and several of my work colleagues also live in that direction, we had to go that way to go home. On the way, four UN tanks and a few police trucks transporting police with guns (most Liberian police don’t have guns – no money for them) passed us, and all the stores were closed. There is a big open air market near my apartment. It was empty! I’ve never seen it empty. All the shops were closed, some with handwritten signs saying “Will Open on Wednesday.” Some people sell their goods out of wheelbarrows on the side of the road – they were all gone.

Now I’m sitting in my apartment, seeing a helicopter pass by about every 5 minutes. I wonder what will happen tomorrow.  I know I’m an American who can’t fully appreciate all the nuances of the situation and my opinion matters little, but I feel really disappointed with the CDC. So they didn’t win this time, try again next time. They need to have a bigger vision. I wish they would understand that their actions jeopardize Liberia’s future. Peaceful elections will help their society heal from the wounds caused by the 14 years of civil war and encourage foreign investment and development. Liberia needs that.

The CDC contested the last presidential elections in 2005, but after a while they accepted the results and there was peace. If you pray, join me in praying for peace in these elections too. 

Happy Thanksgiving!

Today is Thanksgiving Day in Liberia! Since I’ll be working on American Thanksgiving Day, I figured I would take this time to list a few things I’m thankful for this year.

I’m thankful to be in Liberia. I’ve been here almost a year already! I’m thankful for this experience, my job, my chance to learn more about Liberia and West Africa, the lessons I’ve learned about development work in the field, the people I’ve met, the friendships I’ve made. Not gonna lie - it’s been a difficult year. Work has been stressful at times. My health has not been great. I miss my family, boyfriend and friends and the comforts of America. Through all those things - both good and bad, I have really been amazed by God’s love and care for me here.

I am SO THANKFUL for peaceful elections in the first round of elections last month. They were the second elections since the end of the war, and after so many years of war, many people were afraid that the elections might serve as an opportunity for people to fall into old habits. It was kind of crazy in the weeks leading up to the election. At work we had to develop contingency plans in case of an outbreak of violence. We had to think about evacuation strategies for our international staff, should it come to that. I’m not sure of the numbers, but I know that hundreds of people left Liberia out of the fear of what might happen. People (myself included) were stockpiling food like they were preparing for a natural disaster. A few buildings were burned down and a few fights broke out, but overall, things were peaceful. I’m praying the peace continues while the voting takes place and the votes are tallied this month.

I know I have complained about my apartment and all its problems when I first came, but it’s grown on me. I’m thankful for my it. It’s a really nice apartment for Liberia, and I’ve had some good times here. I’m thankful that it has electricity 16 hours a day. I’m thankful that it has running water most of the time – around 90% of the homes in Liberia don’t. I’m thankful that I have been safe there. And I am thankful that I don’t see as many bugs as I used to – still more than I’d like, but less than before J

Every year I’m thankful for food. Those of you who know me well know I love to eat! This year though, my thankfulness for food has taken on a new dimension because I’m living in a country where many people only eat one meal a day. Daily I see small children with protruding bellies, a telltale sign of malnutrition, happily playing in the dirt. I don’t want to paint the wrong picture. There are thousands of healthy, clean, well-nourished children here, but for every one of them, there is at least one who does not get enough food. I’m thankful that I have enough food to eat.

I could write a book on all the things I’m thankful for, but those are just a few. Happy Thanksgiving!