By Bill W. Cooper
Justice Minister, Frank Musa Dean, has reaffirmed the commitment of the country’s Joint Security forces to providing utmost security for all candidates participating in the upcoming general elections.
Justice Minister Dean further emphasized the government’s dedication to ensuring a safe and peaceful electoral process for all citizens, irrespective of one’s political affiliation/association.
With less than 65 days remaining until the elections, concerns regarding the safety and security of candidates have been raised by various stakeholders, including candidates themselves.
The country’s attorney General, during a briefing with the 2023 presidential aspirants, organized by the NEC in collaboration with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and United Nations (UN), aimed to familiarize presidential aspirants with the processes leading to the October 10 elections, also aiming to alleviate these concerns by outlining the comprehensive security measures that have been put in place.
Minister Dean further highlighted the significance of the upcoming elections as a cornerstone of Liberia’s democracy, and emphasized that the government is fully committed to safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process while providing a secure environment for candidates to freely campaign and engage with voters.
To achieve this, the Justice Minister underscored the role of the Joint Security forces, which include personnel from the Liberia National Police (LNP), National Security Agency (NSA), Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), National Fire Service Agency (NFSA), and the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS).
The Justice Minister further emphasized that the Joint Security forces have undergone rigorous training programs to equip them with the necessary skills to handle any potential security challenges.
He also revealed that his team within the coming days meet with all presidential and legislative aspirants to carry out a comprehensive risk assessment for all candidates, taking into consideration the individual threat levels they may face.
Based on the assessment, tailored security plans have been developed to ensure the safety of all candidates, irrespective of their political affiliation, and at the same time highlighted the government’s commitment to maintaining a neutral and nonpartisan approach to security matters.
He emphasized that security personnel will act impartially and without bias, allowing all candidates to campaign freely and without fear of interference, and also urged all political parties and candidates to cooperate fully with the Joint Security forces and adhere to the regulations put in place.
Minister Dean also warned that any violation of the law or attempts to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the elections will be dealt with firmly and swiftly and expressed his optimism in the successful execution of the security plan.
He urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities of electoral violence to the authorities promptly, assuring the public that the government is fully committed to upholding the rule of law and creating an environment conducive for a fair and peaceful electoral process.
