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Liberia’s Catholic Youth Leaders Urged to Help Foster Peace ahead of General Elections

Credit: Liberia Decides/Facebook

The President of the Catholic Archdiocesan Youth Assembly (AYA) in Liberia is calling on young people to help foster peace during the country’s electioneering period.

Liberian eligible voters are to go to the polls on October 10 to elect their President, members of the House of Representatives, and Senators.

“As we approach the fourth General Presidential and Legislative elections in Liberia since the end of the fourteen years of civil conflict, I urge all Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) Presidents and other youth leaders to uphold the peace as we canvass for our respective candidates during these political campaigns,” William Mentor Flomo says in a statement published on Wednesday, September 20.

In the statement, William calls upon the political candidates to demonstrate “a peaceful attitude” as they conduct their respective campaigns.

He says, “I further call on all candidates to present their strategies to the voters clearly and concisely. They should exhibit a peaceful attitude during their campaign tours and political rallies. Let their message be peaceful, both in words and actions.”

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The Liberian Catholic youth leader urges all political candidates to adhere to the 2023 Farmington River Declaration, which political parties and election candidates signed on April 4 and July 21, respectively, pledging to work toward peaceful elections. 

Liberians, the AYA official says in the statement published on September 19, “should not allow the campaign rhetoric to divide us and disrupt the peace we have enjoyed for more than 14 years.”

“Let us create a conducive environment where individuals can openly express their political affiliations harmoniously, without fear, hatred, or intimidation,” he says.

The Catholic youth leaders underscores the need to foster patriotism, saying, “Throughout the elections, it is evident that we, as individuals, collectively identify ourselves as Liberians, regardless of the specific time period being considered.”

He goes on to caution the youth in the west African nation against receiving bribes from politicians.

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“Engaging in vote bribery is deemed reprehensible and has the potential to result in misguided choices,” the President of AYA says, and adds, “Selling your voter card is not only criminal but self-demeaning.”

He urges young people to report incidences of voter bribery to the electoral commission or the police. 

“Liberia is all we have as a country, therefore, let's go through this political season with a high degree of tolerance and respect for each other to preserve the peace. Elections will come and go but we will remain Liberians,” the Catholic youth leader says.

Magdalene Kahiu is a Kenyan journalist with passion in Church communication. She holds a Degree in Social Communications from the Catholic University of Eastern Africa (CUEA). Currently, she works as a journalist for ACI Africa.