Gallup poll on Taylor trial forecasts instability

Gallup did a poll in Liberia. Seriously! The poll showed that 93% of Sierra Leoneans and 67% of Liberians think it’s a good thing that former Liberian president Charles Taylor is on trial.

Some other findings:

• 62% of Sierra Leoneans and 40% of Liberians think Taylor should be convicted and get a jail sentence.
• 2% of Sierra Leoneans and 37% of Liberians think Taylor should be found not guilty and freed.

A Gallup analysis of the poll says that “with the wide diversity of opinions as indicated by the [poll], particularly that 95% of Sierra Leoneans say Taylor should be convicted but only 37% of Liberians say Taylor should be found not guilty and freed, there is reason to believe there could be a real risk of instability in West Africa after the trial ends.”