Law Commons^™

Collective Insecurity: The Liberian Crisis, Unilateralism, & Global Order, Chidi Oguamanam

Dalhousie Law Journal

Recently, a democratically elected president issued an order requiring another President, also in office with, as it were, a democratic mandate, to vacate office. The latter complied and no dissenting voice was raised from anywhere in the rest of the world. The one is George W. Bush of the United States; the other is Charles Taylor of Liberia. This arrangement raises several questions: How is this state of affairs possible in 21st century Africa? How is it that Charles Taylor. a power hungry and known felon, became an elected president of Liberia in the first place, one that left in …