Monrovia – Liberia’s key development partners, the European Union (EU) Delegation and the Embassies of the United States of America and the EU Member States including France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom, have expressed concern over recent incidents of post-election violence in the country following 29 July Montserrado senatorial and District-15 Representative by-elections.
In a joint statement issued here Tuesday, the key development partners condemned the violence that erupted on Saturday, 17 August, in District-15, between supporters of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and supporters of the opposition collaborating political parties’ candidate Telia Urey, who the statement said was reportedly attacked violently.
Following the recent decision by the National Election Commission’s Hearing Officer to re-run the Montserrado County District #15 Representative by-election in 20 polling stations, the key development partners in their statement, while emphasizing the importance of upholding the rule of law and contributing to a climate of tolerance, mutual respect and peaceful debate, urged that all Liberians, particularly political parties, both their leaders and their supporters, ensure a peaceful completion of the electoral process, and to refrain from any inflammatory statements or acts of aggression, intimidation or violence.
“We call on all Liberians, and in particular political leaders and citizens conveying messages in traditional and social media, to avoid using hate speech which could further enhance tensions and undermine the peace and stability of the country,” the statement maintained.
The partners are also urging that the Liberian authorities complete what they call a swift and objective investigation to hold accountable those instigating or executing violence in the Saturday’s melee, as well as previous violent incidents.
In this regard, the European Union (EU) Delegation and the Embassies of the United States of America, France, Germany, Ireland, Sweden and the United Kingdom, welcomed the statement by President George Manneh Weah on Sunday, 18 August, in which he rejected electoral violence and announced a thorough and expeditious investigation into the events which occurred in District-15 over the weekend.
The partners stated that they also commend and support statements and efforts coming from Liberian political and civil society actors to foster peace and stability in the country.
“We also welcome the joint statement by the United Nations and the Office of the Special Representative of the ECOWAS Commission in Liberia on 19 August, which also deplored the recent electoral violence,” the statement read.
“Liberia has gone a long way in consolidating democracy, peace and stability since the end of the conflict in 2003,” the joint statement pointed out, adding that Liberians should not let any form of political or electoral violence jeopardize or reverse the progress made.
“We express our confidence that the Liberian people will always protect their country’s hard-won peace and stability. We remain fully committed to continuing to support Liberia’s development and peacebuilding efforts,” the statement concluded.
