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

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.