Obasanjo to see to peaceful transfer of power in Liberia – UN

UN Secretary-General, António Guterres, has announced that former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, will be going to Liberia to support peaceful transfer of power to a democratically-elected president next Tuesday.

Guterres announced this yesterday in New York through his spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric.

The secretary-General also welcomed the peaceful conduct of the second round of the presidential election in Liberia.

Liberians on Tuesday voted in a second round of elections, deciding between Vice-President Joseph Boakai and George Weah.

In more than 70 years, this would be Liberia’s first peaceful transfer of power from one democratically-elected leader to another.

The brief statement said, “The Secretary-General hopes that the will of the Liberian electorate will be respected and that a seamless transfer of power will take place within constitutional timelines.

“Guterres had requested Obasanjo, who is a member of the Secretary-General’s High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation, to travel to the capital, Monrovia, from Thursday, Dec. 28 to Saturday, Dec. 30 Dec.

“Obasanjo is one of 18 global leaders, senior officials and experts on the high-level board created earlier this year to advise the Secretary-General on mediation and back those efforts around the world.

“The former president of Nigeria was involved in mediation efforts in Angola, Burundi, Mozambique, Namibia and South Africa, among others.

“The high-level board is part of the Secretary-General’s pledge for the UN to embark on a “surge in diplomacy for peace.”

The idea, according to Tarja Halonen, former President of Finland and also a high-level board member, is to prevent wars by “hybrid peace-building.”