Some Injured, There Could Be Deaths From Friday’s Violent Clashes Between Rival Political Supporters
By Our Reporter
Serious violence erupted in Liberia’s northwestern city of Foya earlier today, Friday, September 29, 2023 on the eve of the representative debate in electoral District #1, with reports that several persons have been injured and few feared dead.
The debate, which has been slated for tomorrow, Saturday, September 30, is being supported by Internews Liberia Media Activity/USAID and organized by Public Trust Media Group (PTMG).
Friday’s clashes were reportedly between rival supporter of the former ruling Unity Party of Joseph Boakai, who hails from the area and the ruling CDC of President George Manneh Weah, something that has presented high risk for the planned election debate which has been arranged to take place at the Tamba Lamin Taylor Council Hall.
Seven representative candidates cleared by the National Elections Commission (NEC) should be taking part in Saturday’s including the incumbent Representative from the main opposition Unity Party. . Sakila Nyumalin, Sr. The ruling CDC party is fielding Thomas Fallah in the upcoming October 10 election. Other representative candidates are James Saa Bundoo (LFM), Fallahquoi Bundoo (LINU), Samuel F. Tamba (NLP) and Augustine F. Hayloe (NDC).
Tensions are high in Foya with fear running through the northwestern city, as a local Correspondent for the private OK Fm in Monrovia reported this evening that Friday’s violence has led many people to fear that the worse might happen overnight, if nothing is done to defuse the tensions.
A Public Trust official supervising the Lofa debate said: “Our team (Blamo and Garmeh) left Foya to a safe place as Foya is under serious riots by rival parties (CDC and UP). We have learned about the death of at least 2. Our team finds it dangerous to convene the debate on tomorrow, 30 September. For now, we can’t conclude on cancelation but we thought to report the risk.”
The latest violence in Foya comes just 13 days to the elections and it contradicts commitments made by political leaders to the Farmington River Declaration on non-violent elections.
On 4 April, Liberian political leaders from 27 of 31 political parties signed the Farmington River Declaration 2023, at a hotel near the Farmington River in Margibi County.
This was seen as an enhanced and comprehensive declaration designed to ensure a nonviolent electoral process. This builds on the foundation of the initial pledge signed in 2017.