WARN
Policy Brief - Liberia
June
4, 2003
The
Last Straw for Peace or Total Anarchy
Stakeholders Analysis
Stakeholders
in conflict are those with direct or indirect interest in the conflict. They may
either directly benefit or suffer the consequences of the conflict. National,
regional, international stakeholders are said to be behind the civil war in Liberia.
As negotiations continue this week WARN finds it necessary to shed light on the
current stakeholders in the Liberian conflict, their power bases, interests, and
alliances. The primary stakeholders are the government, rebel factions, political
parties, and civil society organizations.
Opposition
Polical Parties
There
are 18 political parties in Liberia, a country of 2.8 million people. They are
the ruling National Patriotic Party, the National Labour Party, the True Whig
Party, the National Democratic Party of Liberia, Liberia Unification Party, Liberian
People's Party, Unity Party, the United People's Party, the New DEAL Movement,
the All Liberian Coalition Party (ALCOP), the Free Democratic Party, the Liberian
Action Party, and the People Democratic Party of Liberia.
Liberia's
political life has been driven by self-seeking political elites whose apparent
aim in life is the presidency. In the previous elections the parties attempted
to form a coalition to contest the general elections in order to reduce Taylor's
chances of emerging victorious. That coalition did not see the light of day. They
currently split into two groups again, not on any ideological basis but simply
for and against Charles Taylor. Once Taylor is out the coalitions will break into
fragments. Each party leader insists that it is his/her term to become president
in Liberia. This class is fast aging and seems desperate to oust Taylor so as
to improve their chances of tasting the sweetest cake in African politics.
The
clamour for political control by this class has again intensified and this has
already manifested itself in the negotiations. All of the 18 political parties
are represented by their standard bearers. None of the political parties has so
far offered any convincing program for Liberia. 9 candidates have indicated that
they are each chosen by God to lead Liberia into transition. Unconvinced that
they could stand a chance in any democratic elections in Liberia every member
of this class wants to head the transitional government at least to taste power
before they die.
The
core issues of Liberia's 14-year war no longer top the agenda of the mediation.
Everyone seems to be looking forward to the constitution of the transitional government.
Key elements have already begun to lobby the mediators as though the ECOWAS mediators
are the new "king-makers" of Liberia. Majority of individuals in this class have
no constituency in Liberia. In fact they have been out of touch with even members
of their political parties. Others have been standard bearers since the establishment
of their political parties. All parties in Liberia are centred on individuals.
None has institutional framework. The lack of consensus on the super-ordinate
goal for peace and national unity may undermine the position of this group.
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