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Monrovia – The United Nations (UN), African Union (AU) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have warned against what they call recent inciting media messages in the country, especially those transmitted via social media.
In a joint statement released Thursday by the UN, AU Liaison Office in Liberia and the Office of the Special Representative of the ECOWAS Commission in the country, the organizations said they “note with grave concern the use of inciteful messages in the media, particularly in the social media.”
The UN, AU, and ECOWAS observe that although Liberia has taken great strides in building peace and stability, inciting media messages have become intensified in recent weeks and days.
“It is encouraging that the Kamara Abdullah Kamara Act of Press Freedom was recently passed by the Legislature, ensuring that all Liberians are entitled to all the protection that this new law extends, UN, AU, and ECOWAS emphasized.
They added that it is important that all Liberians respect all the laws and exercise their rights freely, pointing out that these must always be carried out in a manner that carries responsibility towards other people and towards the nation.
The groups are of the belief that now is the time that all Liberians need to come together to ensure Liberia’s hard won peace is sustained and a greater focus on the development of the country be paramount, rather than media messages that distract and promote violence.
“The United Nations (UN), the African Union Liaison Office in Liberia (AU) and the Office of the Special Representative of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia (ECOWAS) condemn all such media messages that threaten peace and stability of Liberia,” the statement read.
The UN, AU, and ECOWAS is meanwhile, calling on all Liberians to take immediate steps to refrain from acts and utterances that are inimical to peace and stability in the country.
The organizations reiterated that they shall continue to closely follow the Liberian media as well as the country’s political climate, and remain committed to supporting the people and Government of Liberia in all their endeavors for a peaceful country.
