MAMAL ends post-electoral campaign on peace & stability in three counties 

By Lincoln G. Peters 

Migrant As Messenger Association of Liberia (MAMAL) has concluded a post-electoral peace, stability and reconciliation awareness campaign in three of Liberia’s fifteen political subdivisions.

MAMMAL is a not-for-profit institution that strives to raise awareness of the risk of irregular migration and the prevention of human trafficking – also providing accurate information to the public on other pressing issues.

The awareness was conducted under the project titled: Promoting Peaceful Electoral Environment and Community Security in Liberia. 

The initiative seeks to create awareness of reconciliation and post-electoral violence in three of the fifteen counties.

A statement following the conclusion of the awareness quotes MAMAL as saying, the awareness was implemented in Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties from 26 November to 2 December 2023, with four days spent in each of the counties.

Speaking with several citizens from the three counties, MAMAL Project Officer Richard D. Shasha said the project was intended to curb post-electoral violence.

According to him, the project was triggered by the level of claims and counter-claims from supporters of the ruling CDC and opposition Unity Party over elections victory.

“During the engagement, the team met with several stakeholders, including elders, town chiefs, clan chiefs, and youth leaders,” Shasha noted. 

“We visited schools and had an interactive session where the students discussed the effect and prevention of post-electoral conflict and the importance of uniting after the electoral process,” the statement noted.

According to Shasha, the team visited and mapped communities interacting with community dwellers on the negative effects of electoral violence, and the benefit of post-election peace and reconciliation. 

As part of their project implementation, he said they organized successful tournaments in various areas including Zorzor, Lofa County, and Karnplay, Nimba County.

He said residents of these areas believed to be from various political parties were seen having fun in unity.

Last year, Liberians participated in a heated election that was heavily contested by the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change and the opposition Unity Party. The electoral process witnessed violence among supporters of the parties.

One of the incidents led to the death of a man in electoral District #4 Nimba County in which it was alleged that the Chairperson of the Good Governance Commission was involved.

 Despite the election result in which incumbent President George Manneh Weah conceded defeat to his major rival, Joseph Nyumah Boakai, some supporters of the CDC did not immediately accept the result.

Also Speaking, Liberia Immigration Officer Moses Fallah registered that there were several political tensions or riots before the 2023 elections that saw many supporters of both the ruling CDC and opposition Unity Party accusing the Joint Security of being partisan securities, something he denied.

“Our role is to mitigate situations that border on security threats to the country, but it has been unfortunate for us here during the election. Once we made our presence felt at a particular crime or rioting scene, the supporters will label us as supporters of either of the contending parties,”. Officer Fallah lamented.

According to Officer Fallah, since the election, the people of Foyah and Lofa County at large have been enjoying peace, because everyone accepted the result.

“I am also grateful to you people for the peace initiative you people are undertaking because we are sure of sustaining the peace,” Moses Fallah stated.

For his part, Tamba Momo of the Liberia National Police thanked MAMAL for the post-election peace initiative, describing the initiative as timely and seeking to mitigate violence.

“The police along with other national security institutions have ensured that the peace of Liberia is protected,” Momo stated.