08/10/2026
Winning the Presidency, Losing the Country: Dangers of Using of Tribal and Regional Divisions in Presidential Elections
By Ernest Winderburk
Instructor, University of Liberia
As Liberia gradually approaches the 2029 General and Presidential Elections, what is emerging as a must-win contest is already being mirrored in the tribal and regional divides deepening across the country. Ethnic and regional cleavages are taking root in Liberia more profoundly and they are poised to decisively influence the outcome, particularly of the presidential election.
This widening divide is now framing the electoral discourse into a binary of voting for or against political actors vying to lead the nation. While tribal and regional sentiments may be expedient instruments for electoral victory, they must equally be recognized as potent factors of disunity against national progress.
Division has never advanced the cause of unity, peace, or sustainable development in any nation. The instrumentalization of tribal and regional differences to secure presidency of a country engenders hatred and marginalization. This subsequently begets violence and instability. Defeated tribe or region often perceive themselves as outsiders; consequently, a perilous "we versus them" dichotomy emerges, which amplifies hatred, resentment, and distrust at the expense of patriotism. Such animosities are then transmitted to successive generations.
When victors attain power through tribal and regional polarization, they feel entitled to feast upon the nation's wealth. Corruption becomes difficult to penalize, perpetrators of crimes act with impunity, and governance is rendered arduous. As a direct consequence, losers may resort to violence and instability as a means of asserting relevance.
The victorious president beholds to ethnic and regional loyalties and often sanctifies incompetence at the expense of meritocracy out of solidarity. He turns a blind eye to corruption and crimes against the state, governing passively and maintaining a conspicuous silence, lest reprimanding his kinsmen and sectional affiliates be construed as betrayal.
Conversely, securing the Presidency without recourse to tribal and regional manipulation is an act of profound patriotism. Under such leadership, the impact of governance is felt nationwide, national development is embraced, and civic cooperation becomes visible evident. National security is guaranteed for all, and the nation's wealth is equitably distributed among its people.
