The Economy Community of West African States (ECOWAS) says it has observed with great concern, the creeping tendency for some political leaders and activists to resort to the use of incendiary rhetoric that could stir violent emotions, incite disturbances, and jeopardize the peace and stability of Liberia.
ECOWAS condemns in no uncertain terms such inflammatory statements that have the propensity to trigger violent confrontations.
Political actors are urged to use dialogue and mediation to address grievances and legal channels to seek redress to such concerns. They continue to reiterate the importance of fostering an issue-based campaign, devoid of vituperative language.
ECOWAS calls on all state institutions with roles to play in the electoral process to continue to execute their mandates in neutrality, providing a level playing field for all stakeholders to exercise their constitutional rights with respect to the rule of law.
It reminds all actors that the provisions of the Farmington River Declaration are in force and cardinal to the conduct of all political actors to safeguard the electoral process.
The ECOWAS Commission and its long-term observers currently in Liberia, remain vigilant in assessing the political ecosystem in the run up to elections, and affirms its continued support to a peaceful and successful presidential and general elections.
Meanwhile, a High-Level National Conference on Elections Integrity, with the theme: “United for Peaceful and Prosperous Liberia” will take place in Monrovia, from September 26-28 at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.
Jointly organized by the Liberia Peace Building Office at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Elections Commission (NEC), the Elections Coordinating Committee, ECC, Liberia Elections Observation Network LEON, Center for Development and Elections Management (CEDEM), with support from the Economic Community of West African States, (ECOWAS), the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), United Nations High Commission for Human Rights, the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue, and the United Nations Resident Coordinator’s Office, the Conference intends to take concrete actions to increase the engagement of the political contestants in building peace at all levels of the Liberian society, for the prevention and resolution of conflicts by ensuring the integrity and credibility of these Elections.
According to a release, their actions could either help sustain the peace or cause violence, based on variables that play out during and after these elections.
The Conference will mobilize leaders of various political parties, youth and women leagues, to share perspectives on how they will contribute towards the integrity and credibility of these elections.
Edward Mulbah, Executive Director of the Liberia Peace Building Office, is quoted in the release as mentioning that, in addition to local speakers, the Organizers have invited other inspirational speakers from West and other parts of Africa.
Mulbah continued that the Conference expects to draw experiences and lessons from similar contexts, including Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone, and South Sudan, that inform anticipated steps to address the risks of violence and prevent challenges leading to quality of the elections, its credibility and integrity, for a free, fair, transparent, inclusive and credible elections.
Furthermore, the release stated that representatives from the International Community, including the European Union’s member states – Sweden, Ireland, France, and Germany, as well as the Economic Community of West African States, the Embassies of the United Kingdom and the United States of America, have all expressed some level of concern for different critical aspects of the electoral process.
The release pointed out that enormous investments by these friendly nations and institutions must serve the best interest of the democratic process, void of violence that electoral irregularities and malpractices could trigger.
Primary participants in the National Conference will include political parties, electoral contestants, media, judiciary, security forces, and government officials, analysts on elections, the Inter-Religious Council of Liberia, the Liberia Peacebuilding Office, and Traditional Leadership Authorities.
The secondary groups include the civil society, especially representatives of women and youth groups, persons living with disabilities, members of umbrella civil society organizations, as well as vulnerable and less privileged groups. International organizations, partners, and donors will be invited as witnesses and advisors to the process. It is expected that 200 participants from the 15 counties will participate in the Conference.
