Liberia changes stance on Gaza humanitarian ceasefire vote

The government of Liberia has reversed its vote against a humanitarian ceasefire in the ongoing war in Gaza after a directive by President George Weah.

The ministry of information noted that the Liberian diplomats who voted against the ceasefire did not have President Weah’s approval before making the decision.

“The Liberian Foreign Ministry has therefore ensured the reversal of the negative vote through the appropriate channels at the UNGA [United Nations General Assembly] and registered a new vote in favour of a ceasefire in Gaza,” the information ministry in a statement.

The ministry added that President Weah “has always stood on the side of peace” and that he had made “a passionate appeal” “for the exercise of restraint and consideration for civilians who are the real victims of the ongoing crisis” in a letter he sent to Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu last month.

In the December 12 vote, Liberia was the only African country to vote against a humanitarian ceasefire in Gaza.

The Liberian president recently earned international commendations for conceding defeat after he lost to the leading opposition candidate who was also the former vice president, Joseph Boakai.

Mr Weah was praised for relinquishing political control at a time when the West and Central African regions have witnessed eight military coups in three years, eroding faith in democratic elections.

The country is healing from two civil wars that killed more than 250,000 people between 1989 and 2003, and from a 2013-16 Ebola epidemic that killed thousands before the election.