Liberia’s President Sirleaf Expelled From Ruling Party

Liberia’s outgoing ruling Unity Party (UP) has expelled President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for alleged breach of the party’s constitution.

The party conveyed the decision in a statement issued on Sunday by Mohammed Ali, its assistant secretary general for public outreach.

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Ali said the president was ousted on Saturday evening following several violations of the party’s constitution and other “acts inimical to the existence and reputation of the party”.

Johnson-Sirleaf whose 12-year tenure will end on January 22, was accused of breaching rules that require her to support the party’s candidates in elections.

The outgoing president never campaigned for her Vice-President, the UP’s presidential candidate, Joseph Boakai, during the last general election in Liberia.

This fuelled speculation of a rift between her and Boakai, who has been Vice-President for 12 years.

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There were also rumours that she secretly supported the candidacy of the President-elect, George Weah, who ran on the platform of the opposition Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC).

Weah defeated Boakai in the delayed presidential run-off election on December 26.

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