President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf says Liberia’s upcoming elections signals the “irreversible course” the country has embarked upon to consolidate its young, post-conflict democracy.

“Liberia is just 22 days away from historic legislative and presidential elections. It will mark the first time in 73 years that political power will be handed over peacefully, and democratically, from one elected leader to another,” she stressed; stressing that democracy is on the march in Liberia and believes on an irreversible path forward on the African continent.

According to a dispatch from New York, President Sirleaf made the assertion when she addressed the 72^nd regular session of the United Nations General Assembly during the general debate in New York; her last as president of Liberia.

“Eleven years ago, in September 2006, I stood before this august body as the newly elected president of the Republic of Liberia, and, the first woman to be democratically elected as head of state on the African continent,” she reminded the Assembly; adding further that the upcoming elections paves the way for the next generation of Liberians to lead the country into the future.

She thanked all her international partners who made meaningful contributions, financial and in-kind to ensure peaceful elections, and those organizations which will deploy observer missions to attest to the integrity of the elections process.

Giving account of her stewardship over her two-terms as president, President Sirleaf said she assumed office after 25 years of development reversal which further compounded by a 15-year civil war. “We have made great progress and laid the foundation for the next democratic government.

“We have reshaped the Armed Forces of Liberia and the Liberia National Police, professionalized our customs and immigration services and small Liberia Coast Guard.” President Sirleaf said, noting that she was proud to report that since the formal turnover of the security responsibilities to the Government, Liberia has remained stable, peaceful, and secured.

She said previously dysfunctional public institutions now have the capacity to respond to the needs of the citizens through decentralized county service centers with ownership by strong local governments.

“From the tragedy of the health crisis, we are strengthening our healthcare systems, prioritizing prevention and delivering capacity at the community level,” she said, noting that the country has enjoyed the benefit of multilateralism through full support provided by the United Nations, the African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

“From a pariah state, Liberia has gradually regained the confidence of nations and even risen to assume leadership roles in regional bodies, specifically ECOWAS and the Mano River Union,” President Sirleaf indicated, also citing her role in the formulation of the Sustainable Development Agenda as Co-chair of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s High-Level Panel on Sustainable Development Goals and in framing the Common Africa Position as Chair of the Africa Union’s High-Level Committee.

She noted that Liberia has come a long way and could not have accomplished this without the world body, its political leadership, the generosity of its economic development support, humanitarian contributions, and, most importantly, the stabilization and security provided to the country through the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).

“Liberia’s transformation was powered by a world community that made a shared commitment to deliver peace to a country, and a sub-region, beset by civil conflict and cross border destabilization,” she emphasized.

Amidst applauds, President Sirleaf emphasized that the UN and its partner nations were of one mind, and from that global unity, a new Liberian democratic state was born. “Liberia is a post conflict success story. It is your post conflict success story,” she noted. 

As President Sirleaf bid the world body farewell, she urged the UN and its Member States to continue to lead, to spread the values of democracy, human rights, and good governance while strengthening solidarity for economic transformation and social resilience.

She further urged them to fully implement the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), as well as reforms of the UN, including the Security Council.

“The United Nations, as the preeminent world body must also continue to evolve, to more effectively serve the common interest of all Member States. You must continue to chart the way forward. In your capable hands rest the hope and aspirations for a more just, peaceful and humane world, for the sake of our people and our planet,” President Sirleaf said.