26 political parties certified to vie for a slot in Liberia's October elections

Liberia’s electoral commission has certified four more political parties to the active 22 ahead of the October 10 general elections.

This brings the total number of registered parties to 26 who are expected to file their nominations for the legislative and presidential elections in two weeks.

Head of the National Elections Commission (NEC), Jerome Korkoya issued the certificates on Monday to the Redemption Democratic Congress (RDC), Liberia Restoration Party (LRP), the Liberia for Prosperity Party (LPP), and the Democratic Justice Party (DJP).

“It is no problem in receiving the certificates, but there are lots of requirements that you will have to meet up with,” said Korkoya who linked the high number of parties to Liberia’s democratic growth.

On Tuesday, the head of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) Farid Zarif, told the UN Security Council that the country’s democracy is tied to the success of the upcoming elections.

“Liberia’s future as stable democracy will hinge on successful conduct of elections, acceptance they were free & fair, smooth transfer of power. Despite important gains, Liberia faces challenges which weigh heavily on efforts to sustain peace & advance national reconciliation,” Zarif said.

After devastating back-to-back civil wars in Liberia, the UN launched the peacekeeping mission in September 2003 to ensure security, rebuild police and military forces from scratch and disarm rebels.

It announced its gradual withdrawal from the country last year leaving the country’s security to ensured by Liberian forces who are undergoing training in corporation with the UN troops.