MONROVIA, Montserrado – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has reassured her government’s commitment to support a peaceful and fair election in October.

Sirleaf said she will do everything to ensure a peaceful environment during the election season.

She made the commitment in a special statement to the country on Monday, the first day of political campaigning activities by candidates and political parties participating in the elections.

“I am convinced that after elections, we will regroup as a proud and determined nation to proceed with the development of our country,” she said.

She termed the October presidential and legislative elections as a test of the maturity of politicians and supporters.

The Liberian leader praised citizens for their enthusiasm demonstrated both by their huge turnout during the voter registration and high level of involvement and participation in the campaign kickoff.

According to her, the 2017 elections will signal the country’s irreversible course on the path of peace and democracy. “This is the first general elections organized by us, conducted by us, and therefore all ours,” she said.

She meanwhile cautioned political actors to strive to focus their discussions on the bigger issues and challenges of society throughout the campaign.

Sirleaf challenged political leaders to be clear on the kind of country they want after elections. “We must seek to inform and enlighten the electorate, treat each other with respect, and clarify choices while sustaining our electoral environment free of violence and conflicts,” she stressed.

According to an Executive Mansion release, the president had earlier met with some presidential candidates from at least 20 of the 26 registered political parties. She hailed their active participation and commitment to the Farmington River Declaration they had signed onto before ECOWAS Heads of state and other representatives of the international community.

“We hold them, as political leaders, who seek the highest office of our land to act with dignity and responsibility that benefits the office, to live up to their commitments to ensure violence-free elections, to seek mediation when differences pose a threat to the campaign process,” she said.

The president expressed satisfaction particularly over the confidence expressed by political leaders in the authority of the National Elections Commission to steer the affairs of the elections. She said NEC must continue to do all within its powers to prepare adequately and operate efficiently and effectively during the ongoing campaign phase of the elections.

She at the same time reminded the parties at the Sunday meeting about their commitment in the Farmington River Declaration on the need to establish a hotline that would facilitate rapid communication and prompt preventive actions.

The commission had earlier announced campaign officially opened as of Monday. The declaration coincided with the release of the final list of qualified candidates to contest the elections.

Featured photo courtesy of European Parliament