To end post electoral violence in Liberia, a nongovernmental organization, Migrant as Messengers Association of Liberia (MAMAL), continued its post-election peace and reconciliation campaign through sports in Montserrado and Grand Cape Mount Counties, tagged: “Let’s play and keep the peace.”
The awareness seeks to bring young Liberians from various political and non-political institutions and inform them about the importance of peace as well as the impact it has on the Liberian society. Speaking at the event in Monrovia, the Executive Director of MAMAL Catheryn Kenny said their goal is to sensitize young Liberians about the danger and risk associated with violence.
Madam Kenny said it is impossible for all community dwellers and even family members to support the same candidate during elections, something that normally brings about split or division, but there must be unity afterwards. Executive Director Kenny said that elections will come and go but Liberia will remain; as such, there’s no reason why Liberians should continue on the path of confusion considering that there will come another election.
“In a world where conflict and division often dominate the headlines, our collective presence here today is a powerful testament to our shared commitment to fostering peace, reconciliation and cooperation. We have come together from different walks of life, different cultures and different perspectives, united by a common goal- to build bridges where there have been walls, to create dialogue where there has been silence, and to sow the seeds of peace where there has been discord,” Kenny said. She said there cannot be development in the midst of conflict, as development partners will be scared away from the state due to unending conflict.
” I encourage you to engage fully in the discussions and activities that actively promote peace and development within our Nation, to listen with open hearts, and to speak with the courage of your convictions” she said. According to the organization’s Executive Director, the gathering focused on the cause of peace and unity which will help foster development; saying, that a country will lack development in the absence of peace thus urging the young people of Liberia to remain peaceful and reconcile all differences that may have occurred during the just ended October 10, 2023 Elections.
Electoral District#8 in Montserrado County was one of the districts during the 2023 Elections that experienced political tensions especially for the acceptance of conceding defeat by the then lawmaker; however, the decision of the electorate prevailed based on official results from the National Elections Commission of Liberia.
For his part, the Program Officer of the Liberia Peacebuilding Office Calluchi Beiah used the medium to call on the youth of Liberia to embrace peace as the hallmark of achieving development and building the capacity of humans.
“Let us allow peace reign in our society void of our political affiliations and religious beliefs once we claim to be patriotic citizens of Liberia,” he said. The post-electoral awareness campaign brought together several youth from Say Town and City Hall Communities through sports encounters and other recreational activities.
