IPNEWS-Monrovia: The University of Liberia Student Leaders, political parties’ youth league representatives, and eight national youth groups have signed a commitment to maintain a peaceful environment and support a violence-free election process in Liberia, regardless of their political differences.
Held in the Auditorium of the University of Liberia Capitol Hill campus Wednesday, March 22, 2023, the flagship signing ceremony followed the young people’s participation in a two-day Peace Symposium from March 20-21, 2023.
Organized by the UL student government with students and youth leaders in the country, the symposium provided young people with a learning opportunity on dialogue, social cohesion, and conflict resolution, among others.
Liberian authorities, the University of Liberia Administration, and foreign missions including the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the United Nations, the European Union, the South African Ambassador, Liberia’s Military, and the Police, witnessed the signing ceremony.
The organizers said nine hundred participants were drawn from all campuses of the University of Liberia, seven political party youth wings, and eight national youth groups.
Part of the key takeaways from the symposium was understanding election and the role of youth in a violence-free election, rights-based consciousness, and upholding the rule of law in Liberia. They also included identifying looming threats, with one example being politicians and their supporters’ quest to ‘win by all cost’ in an election process, among others.
Addressing the participants at the ceremony, Liberia’s Minister of State for President Affairs and Acting Chair of the Cabinet, Hon. G. Wesseh Blamoh, said it is important to keep the peace in Liberia and on the University of Liberia campus. “For many years we witnessed violence in our country and even on these campuses. Students died on this campus because of violence. Students got wounded because of violence,” said Minister Blamoh. He, therefore, urged that they work together to maintain a peaceful and non-violent environment on the campuses of the University. “The only reason for the existence of this University is for students to learn today and become productive citizens tomorrow,” he said.
Minister Blamoh pledged that the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs will support all stakeholders in the peace equation to maintain a peaceful and non-violent environment.
The President of the University of Liberia, Prof. Dr. Julius Sarwolo Nelson, Jr., said violence is a threat to peace, security, and development anywhere in the world. “Violence anywhere is a threat to peace everywhere. Let us all work together to build, to sustain, to maintain a culture of peace and non-violence in the Republic of Liberia,” said Dr. Nelson.
He cautioned the students and young people that violence will not solve the problem of the Republic of Liberia. Despite incidents of disturbances at the University, President Nelson noted that many other good things are happening at the University of Liberia.
However, he said there is a tendency to magnify the wrong things against the good things that are happening at the University. As such, he said the University of Liberia family has the responsibility to re-brand the perception that when you are here at the University, you should think about trouble. “Maybe, this event, organized by our student government with students and youth leaders in the Republic of Liberia should be a new opportunity that we can use the platform to re-brand the University of Liberia,” said Dr. Nelson.
Madam Christine N. Umutoni, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia, indicated that peacebuilding among young people is so critical. She urged that the flagship commitment that the young people made should serve as the basis for sustaining the peace.
Maj. Gen. Prince Charles Johnson, III, Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL), assured the students and young people that under the new AFL, he will do his part to stick to upholding the rule of law just as the students are signing a commitment to peace.
He said the AFL will not go to the University of Liberia campus to respond to any demonstration of the Liberia National Police (LNP) has not gone there first to engage the students. “We are professionals, we will come here, we will dialogue with you, we will engage you and tell you this is my responsibility, [and] this your responsibility, and let both of us respect each other as we do our job,” said Gen. Johnson amidst applause from the audience.
National Elections Commission (NEC) Chairperson Madam Davidetta Browne-Lansanah said the NEC joins the students and young people in their strives for a non-violent elections process. She also urged them to speak about the positive side of their agitation, and not the negative side.
ECOWAS Ambassador to Liberia Madam Josephine Nkrumah said the symposium provided an opportunity to rethink the role of the youth in nation-building for national transformation, peace, and development.
EU Ambassador to Liberia Mr. Laurent Delahousse stated he did not think that Liberians wanted a repeat of what happened to their country years ago, especially for those who saw the civil conflict. “There are people who want to use you, do not be manipulated, do not cede to provocation, do not cede to [the] temptation of making money by using your muscles against other people,” Amb. Delahousse cautioned the youth.
South African Ambassador to Liberia Prof. Iqgbal Jhazbhay, recognized the ultimate sacrifices that many have made in keeping the democratic light on in Liberia. He also congratulated Liberians for upholding the Accra Peace agreement.
