By Enyichukwu Enemanna
Ahead of the October 10 presidential and legislative elections in Liberia, United States has threatened to impose visa ban on officials of the African country involved in acts capable of undermining democratic process.
The US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a release on Wednesday announced the new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for those undermining democracy in Liberia.
The policy, which takes effect in advance of the upcoming election, will affect officials of the government and others who are or will be involved in the manipulation and rigging of the electoral process.
Also to be affected are those involved in alleged acts of intimidating voters, election observers, and civil society activities.
“The United States is committed to supporting and advancing democracy in Liberia and around the world. Today, I am announcing a new visa restriction policy under Section 212(a)(3)C) of the Immigration and Nationality Act for those undermining democracy in Liberia.
“This policy will take effect in advance of the upcoming election,” the US Secretary of State said in the release.
“Persons who undermine democracy in Liberia — including in the lead-up to, during, and following Liberia’s 2023 elections—may be found ineligible for U.S. visas under this policy.”
Under this policy, the United States will halt visa restrictions for those believed to be responsible for, or complicit in, undermining democracy in Liberia, including through manipulation or rigging of the electoral process.
The restrictions will also affect officials of government and other stakeholders who will use violence to prevent people from exercising their rights to freedom of association and peaceful assembly; the use of measures designed to prevent political parties, voters, civil society, or the media from disseminating their views; or engagement in any other activity designed to improperly influence the outcome of an election, the US announced.
Certain family members of such persons, the US government said, may also be subject to these restrictions.
This comes as the opposition in the country accuses the electoral body, the National Elections Commission is doing everything in its power to rig the elections in favor of the incumbent, President George Weah and his party, the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).
Less than two weeks to the polls, the NEC is yet to make public the Final Voter Roll (FVR), in order to ascertain number of registered voters who will participate at the elections, a development the opposition has faulted.
