News:
June 2, 2021
Liberia Delegation to the regional ECOWAS Parliament has submitted that instabilities resulting from election violence in its neighbouring countries of Republic of Guinea and Republic of Ivory Coast led to 28,736 (twenty-eight thousand seven hundred and thirty-six) refugees and asylum-seekers in its territory.
Presenting the Liberia’s country report on behalf of the Liberian Delegation to the ECOWAS Parliament, Clarence Massaquoi whilst deliberating on the security and refugee situation in the region said consequent of the post-election instabilities “according to UNHCR Global Focus, there was an estimated 28,736 refugees and asylum-seekers in Liberia at the start of 2021, including 20,466 Ivorian asylum-seekers who arrived in December 2020, following electoral tension in Côte d’Ivoire.”
Mr. Massaquoi added that “the reported hundreds of migrant farm workers along the border towns of Taboo, Maryland County, Toe Town, Grand Gedeh County and Logatuo, Nimba County in search of economic livelihoods but who present threats to border security as the local complained of land grabs by these migrants which have prompted the authorities in those areas to call on national government to intervene so that the situation does not blow out of proportion.”
The Liberian delegation further presented that as a result of changes in the Guinean Constitution passed in a constitutional referendum in earlier 2020 which reset the presidential terms, that ended in the incumbent president Alpha Condé to run for a third term and winning in October of 2020. He said the opposition boycotted the said election and protested, adding that the protest lasted throughout the year but was harshly repressed by security forces claiming several civilian lives. In effect, those fearing their lives crossed over to Liberia and other neighboring countries which prompted the government of Liberia to deploy armed men along its border with Guinea to mitigate any situation arising thereof.”
Consequently, on the area of political tolerance, Clarence Massaquoi stated that “Liberia reassured the world for the respect of democratic political tenets and the rule of laws by solidifying the gains made over the years as exemplified by the holding of free, fair, and transparent elections.”
Ghanamps.com