The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia has reiterated threats of visa restrictions for those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Liberia, including through the purposeful spread of mis- or disinformation.
In a statement issued by the United States Embassy on Friday reaffirming support for the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC), U.S. Charge Dโaffaires Catherine Rodriguez reminded Liberians of the announcement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken of to slap democracy underminers in Liberia with visa restriction.
Full statement below:
The U.S. Embassy in Monrovia is aware of a video circulating on social media purporting to show Chairman Oscar Bloh of the Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) engaged in discussions in a political party office. The ECC has publicly clarified that it is not Oscar Bloh in the video. Local Voices, a U.S. Embassy-supported factchecking organization, has also confirmed that it is not Oscar Bloh in the video.
The United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Liberia and around the world. As announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken on September 27, 2023, the United States may pursue visa restrictions for those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Liberia, including through the purposeful spread of mis- or disinformation. As a result of this incident, we are actively exploring using this visa restriction authority because we view this as an example of impeding election observation efforts needed to ensure transparency.
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is proud to have been supporting the ECC since 2011 to provide objective and evidence-based observation of Liberiaโs electoral procedures. ECC has been a trusted partner and a leader in Liberiaโs civil society community for over a decade. USAID stands by ECC and their commitment to promoting a free, fair, and peaceful electoral process.
USAID has no intention of reducing or stopping funding to the ECC based on a misleading video. The U.S. Embassy is confident in ECCโs ability to report fairly and accurately on Liberian elections, including the upcoming presidential run-off.
[bsa_pro_ad_space id=1]
The U.S. Embassy encourages all Liberians to take the time to check their sources of information carefully. The future of the country is in the hands of the Liberian people. Please exercise your voice and your right to vote by going to the polls on November 14.
“The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is proud to have been supporting the ECC since 2011 to provide objective and evidence-based observation of Liberiaโs electoral procedures. ECC has been a trusted partner and a leader in Liberiaโs civil society community for over a decade. USAID stands by ECC and their commitment to promoting a free, fair, and peaceful electoral process.
USAID has no intention of reducing or stopping funding to the ECC based on a misleading video. The U.S. Embassy is confident in ECCโs ability to report fairly and accurately on Liberian elections, including the upcoming presidential run-off.”
This is an outright nonsense! The US Embassy in Monrovia is using the ECC to undermine the elections in favor of Joseph Boaki and is hypocritically protecting the ECC as a sacred cow which cannot be touched and rather going after those who have genuine case against the ECC.
If your so-called ECC is that trusted why is the video displaying Oscar Bruh’s voice and activities at a Unity Parry meting? If the ECC is that trusted why shield it from an investigation but rather making a foolish threat of so-called vis sanctions?
This nonsense American double standard will not hold this time around in Liberia! Liberians will vote who they want as president and there is nothing America can do about it.
Fuck the Charges Affairs! Liberia is not America!
This is the double standard of the Americans that have got Liberia nowhere. They hate a native person.