Africa-Press – Liberia. Internal Affairs Minister Varney Sirleaf has described the relaunch of the National Situation Room on Elections and COVID-19 as a positive step to achieving or consolidating peace and reconciliation for Liberia.
According to him, the exercise is not intended to usurp any functions of state institutions but rather an initiative to complement and mutually reinforce the government to sustain its peace agenda.
He made the statement last Thursday in Monrovia when the government through the Liberia Peacebuilding Office relaunched the country’s situation room. The situation room is primarily intended to prevent any form of violence associated with either elections or COVID-19.
The occasion was attended by a cross-section of government officials and international partners. It can be recalled that in August 2020, the government of Liberia through the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the 54th Legislature launched the situation room to prevent violence.
Interestingly, ahead of the 2023 presidential and general elections, the situation room relaunch has been considered significant by the government and its international partners.
There are reports of a looming crisis, ahead of the elections that, if not managed well, could cause violence. The Internal Affairs Minister said that the government through his office is committed to promptly responding to issues that may hamper the peace.
He said although the name implies that the focus of the Situation Room is on elections and COVID-19 monitoring during elections, it is a platform that also collects and reports alerts on a variety of issues based on several different indicators.
Minister Sirleaf recounted the many achievements of the situation room in the past. “We deeply acknowledged the immense contributions of the Situation Room, particularly during the 2020 Special Senatorial Elections,” he said.
According to him during that time, Information and data at the Situation Room were collected, categorized, collated, and verified by technicians to authenticate every report using evidence-based analysis before placing them on a platform.
“The Situation Room is linked to the 15 counties through the Liberia Early Warning and Response Network.
It is a pool of volunteers and non-volunteers such as the county peace committees, early warning monitors, and program officers of the county Security Council and youth agents of peace located in 136 districts to prevent violence,” he explained.
He added that they are anchored within the conflict early warning and response system intended to help track daily incidents including elections, and Covid-19-related issues that have the potential to undermine peace and stability of the country.
“The initiative complements the government’s efforts toward conflict prevention and transformation using both formal and non-formal approaches to preventing violence,” he added.
The chairperson of the National Elections Commission who also spoke at the occasion said that the Commission was pleased to know that the Ministry of Internal Affairs, through its Peacebuilding Office, is committed to ensuring the prevention of conflict during elections and to coping with COVID-19.
Commissioner Davidetta Browne Lansanah said the exercise was strategic and proactive particularly as the country draws toward the 2023 general election.
“It is 16 months away from the elections. We are already in gear and the vehicle is moving. Peace can be used to judge the success of elections. A peaceful election has a positive effect that has the sustenance to contribute to democratic governance, national stability, and development.
She noted that COVID-19 prevention was cardinal for the social-economic development of the nation while elections are necessary for a peaceful transition of political power so elections must be conducted in the care of the health of the nation.
Madam Lansanah added that an election is a central act of democracy that needs to be monitored, guided, and protected by positive actions of all stakeholders.
“The NEC viewed the establishment of the Situation Room and its relaunched as a demonstration of a collaborative effort with the Commission and all stakeholders to ensure a stable country,” she mentioned.
She assured the Internal Affairs ministry and all stakeholders of the NEC’s continuous commitment toward the conduct of a violence-free and credible election.
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