By Sulaiman Jalloh
A rally organized by supporters of the Former Vice-president of Liberia Joseph N. Boakai who is the main contender to President George Weah in the pending October Presidential and Legislative elections, canalised into chaos on Friday, September 29 2023 in Lofa County, Northern part of the country between people believed to be supporters of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and members of the main opposition Unity party. The event which was organized by descendants of Foya District who had returned from America to show support to the Standard barrier of the Unity Party (UP) Joseph N. Boakai, suddenly erupted into violence which resulted to two dead and more than twenty persons reported injured.
According to eyewitness account, the tension started by verbal exchange, stone throwing and damage of government property (street lights) by supporters of both parties adding that the Liberia National Police and the joint security personnel were able calm the situation.
Thomas Fallah who is a member of the governing CDC and a representative candidate of district one Lofa County has refuted all allegations of his supporter’s involvement and accused the opposition unity party for the attack which claimed the lives of two persons believed to be members of his party.
The executive member of the ruling CDC late Friday issued a press release and expressed disappointed by the regrettable event that emerged, noting he had taken all necessary steps to halt all campaign activities of his party in the district to allow a peaceful conduct of the Opposition Unity Party rally adding what occurred was far from the spirit of peace and democratic coexistence that the nation deserves.
Fallah, whose is a main contender to the incumbent Francis Nyumalin of the Unity Party says, thugs believed to be members of the UP surrounded the compound of his residence in Foya, the district headquarters, manhandled and killed two partisans on the facility of the compound, and thanked the security for their swift intervention.
The Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) which comprises of the ‘Liberty Party’ and the ‘Alternative National Congress (ANC) has condemned the violence and termed the event as distressing acts of aggression between members of the Unity Party and the Coalition for Democratic Change.
In a release dated September, 30, 2023, the CPP expressed condolences to the lives lost and to the many injured, the damage of public infrastructure by the alleged party supporters and calls on the Liberian authority to swiftly and impartially investigate the incident and to make sure those involved face the Law, noting such actions contradict the essence of democratic society and threatened the stability and progress of the nation.
According to the release, violence has no place in the country’s democracy, and strongly calls for an immediate termination of such acts that undermine the fabric of the nation.
The release further calls on all political parties’ leaders to prioritize peace, unity, and respect for all during the electoral process adding Liberia deserves an atmosphere of peace and corporation, where dialogue and understanding triumph over hatred, noting the CPP stands against any form of violence and remains steadfast in its commitment to promoting a peaceful electoral process.
On 4th April, 2023, Leaders of 27 of 31 Political Parties signed the Farmington River Declaration 2023, an enhanced and comprehensive declaration designed to ensure a non-violent electoral process before, during and after the 2023 presidential and legislative election in Liberia.
