Being young and voting for the first time: what expectations and perspectives for this post-civil war generation in Liberia?
Liberia is preparing for general elections on October 10. And among the voters, almost half are young people, who will vote for the first time. How does this post-civil war generation position itself? What are his expectations of the candidates and the future of their country?
Abednego, a 21-year-old student, is one of those young people who has not experienced the horrors of the civil war in Liberia. For him, it is time to get personally involved in the development of his country. He chose to study public administration in order to help ensure that government programs are effectively implemented, for the benefit of all Liberians.
Georgina Kouso, a 21-year-old young woman, interrupted her schooling to raise her daughter. But that doesn’t stop him from finding the vote important. She considers it a citizen’s right and hopes to be able to contribute to changes, particularly in the areas of education, road construction and economic recovery.
Edouard Johnson, a young unemployed graduate, expresses a concern common to many young Liberians: the fight against corruption and the need for renewal for the country. He believes that it is time to fight against those who have emptied the state coffers in recent years.
However, Liberian youth are not united in their political views. While in 2017 many young people supported the outgoing president, today the context has changed. Some young people are still attracted by the image of Weah, a former football star, but others are turning to opponent Joseph Boakai, disappointed by the outgoing president. This division among young voters represents a major challenge for the candidates.
Interestingly, young Liberians show a strong interest in politics. Many of them mobilized and led meetings during the electoral campaign.
In conclusion, this post-civil war generation in Liberia demonstrates enthusiasm and civic engagement. Young voters express strong expectations in terms of development, the fight against corruption and political renewal. The choice in these elections will be crucial in shaping the future of this country in reconstruction.