By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
As part of an effort to end post-election conflict in Liberia, a Non-governmental organization named and styled “Migrant as Messenger’ has continued awareness of post-electoral conflict in three counties.
The Counties visited include; Grand Gedeh, Bong and Nimba are counties that experienced election violence; something the group said poses security threat for future elections or other things.
The group noted that in Nimba County, they visited Zor Zualay, an area that experienced violence between supporters of Senator Prince Johnson and the people of Dulay during the October 10, 2023 elections; the conflict resulted to serious rioting.
Chan District in Grand Gedeh and Palala District in Bong Counties are areas that were also hit by electoral conflict as such, he had to create some awareness.
Migrant as Messenger noted that the initiative is under the “Promoting peaceful Electoral Environment and community security in Liberia” with sponsorship from the International Organization for Migration, OHCHR and the Liberian government.
“The engagement is the phase two of the eighteen month project that target young people between the ages 17 to 25 years because they are being consider as the conduit for the creation of conflict.
MAMAL registered that the phase one of the “Promoting peaceful Electoral Environment and community security in Liberia” was was intended for Pre-election aim at cautioning electorates on the danger of Election violence, hate speeches, voter’s trucking, misinformation and disinformation about elections activities.
The group noted that Phase two pf the project focuses on the Peace and reconciliation; noting that the phase two centers around Reconciliation after election for communities dwellers to co exist as one people by reconciling their differences after elections.
According to MAMAL, during the awareness creation, members of the security sector, local towns and Clans leadership, youth as well as women and men of other sectors.
Its partners have labeled Reconciliation as fundamental for fostering peace and stability in transitional settings ; something we believe must be enhanced for the safety of our people and communities. MAMAL added.
“ We consider the process of reconciliation as central element of peace deals and transitional political unities for a sustained democracy:and partners have labeled Reconciliation as fundamental for fostering peace and stability in transitional settings.
The group has also noted that the process of reconciliation is a central element of peace deals and transitional political unities.
During our group visit to the three counties, we led efforts to ensure conflicted communities are reconciled through sports, town hall meetings and peer to peer interactions in three counties in Zozuolay Nimba, and Palala in Bong County as well as Zwedru, Grand Gedeh counties.
These locations according to the group, were selected based on unsettled disputes that arose during the election period amongst political leaders and their constituents.
Fostering peace among communities affected by violence during the elections, MAMAL with support from the International Organization for Migration, the Peace Building Funds, and partners, has conducted sports and soccer tournaments, cultural and traditional performances, interactive dialogue, and media engagement during a reconciliation campaign to reunite these communities.
The campaign focused on a clear and authentic message of unity, peace-building, and reconciliation, thereby referencing the Farmington River Declaration.
During the campaign, the audience was enlightened on the importance of upholding the peace within their various villages and towns. The messages of peace and reconciliation were disseminated via media and communities engagements.
The activities implementation commenced on March 24th to April 7, covering at least 500 participants, both males and females.
The migration group, MAMAL Executive Director, Catheryn Best Kenny mentioned, the reconciliation campaign had a stronger effect on individuals who were directly and indirectly involved with electoral violence and the selling of votes during the just-ended general elections. She stated that the awareness campaign was aimed at promoting peace and reconciliation in areas with election-related conflict and to reunite citizens in the concentrated areas.
“Strengthening conflict resolution and peace infrastructures that effectively resolve conflicts and limit electoral violence, as well as providing authentic information on the importance of maintaining peace and reconciliation, also highlighting the negative effects of misinformation was paramount during the reconciliation campaign,” Madam Kenny said.
Kenny said during the campaign, the team collaborated with the county’s stakeholders, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and the elderly, especially women groups as well as youth volunteers within the selected activity’s location.
Each of the activities comprised a session of dialogue, where MAMAL’s team interacted with the participants on the importance of upholding peace and provided messages that prevent violence in any form.
At the same time, Media outlets were engaged to air jingles and live radio talk shows containing peace and reconciliation messages.
