The Head of the United Nations Office for West Africa and Sahel (UNOWAS), has urged Liberian political parties to be in full compliance with the Farmington Declaration Agreement.
Addressing a news conference midweek, following a 3-day visit to Liberia to acquaint himself with development at firsthand, Leonardo Santos Simao, who is also the United Nations Secretary General Special Representative for West Africa and the Sahel, and Chairman of the Cameroon-Nigeria Mixed Commission, said Liberian politicians, with their followers and supporters, have a full responsibility for the maintenance of peace and stability of their country, so as not to repeat the past.
He said though elections is a moment of risk to the peace of the country, political institutions and their individual actors must put their hands on deck, as Liberia is no exception in the foregoing for which everyone must comply with the Farmington River Declaration.
Simao noted that Liberia went through a very difficult moment, which both the local and international communities do not want to see repeated, but rather, to move forward with development as she celebrates over 20 years of peace, security, and stability in the sub-region.
He however was quick to have stated the concerns or fears being raised by many actors of the electoral process, following the violent incident on Thursday, August 10, involving some young people believed to be supporters or followers of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and the Unity Party (UP), which left scores wounded.
“I met with various stakeholders, including the President, women, and youth groupings, civil society organizations, security services, in terms of their preparations, the National Elections Commission, Diplomatic corps and that of the United Nations family in Liberia. Everybody’s concern has to do what happened last week. We do not want to see it repeated,” Simao noted.
He indicated how the last week development seems to have put the population on high alert and instilling fear, which does not augur well for the country in particular, and the international community in general.
Therefore, Simao continued, “Our appeal is to the commitment made by the political class or politicians, mainly presidential candidates, as well as the senatorial and representative candidates; but also most importantly, the media and young people, not to be used for violence.”
“Because the commitment made by these political actors to the Farmington River Declaration is to the conduct of a credible elections that will ensure a result worth publishing, thereby reflecting the willingness of the people or voters in the country,” the UN Envoy said.
He said campaigning should not put in jeopardy, the peace and stability of the country, like what happened last week, as the primary effort in the maintenance and strengthening of the peace rests with Liberians themselves.
“The international community can continue to mobilize for the support of the consolidation of the peace process in the country, but Liberians themselves need to comply by playing the role in upholding the stability of their land,” Simao lamented.
