The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) recently convened a one-day National Security Dialogue to assess the performance of the Joint Security Task Force (JSTF) during the 2023 elections and to offer recommendations for improving future electoral security efforts.
The JSTF, led by the Liberian National Police (LNP), was responsible for ensuring electoral security. While the LNP’s response to election-related violence was inconsistent, the JSTF largely maintained professionalism despite financial, logistical, and staffing challenges.
The dialogue focused on evaluating the security sector’s role during the elections, particularly in managing tensions between political parties and candidates. Such discussions are crucial for fostering a peaceful and orderly election process, protecting both the integrity of elections and the peaceful transition of power.
Conflict Mitigation: A key element of the dialogue was identifying potential sources of election-related conflict. By improving communication among stakeholders, these discussions aim to reduce tensions and prevent violence, ensuring that the electoral process remains transparent and secure.
Challenges and Perceptions: Despite the logistical and financial constraints faced by the JSTF, public perceptions of the LNP’s impartiality—especially accusations of favoring the incumbent government— have posed additional challenges. Nevertheless, the task force was commended for its overall professional conduct on election day.
Institutionalizing Electoral Security: With elections growing more complex and citizens becoming more engaged in the political process, it is critical to institutionalize the planning and coordination of electoral security across all JSTF agencies. This will ensure better preparation for future elections.
Key Recommendations:
- Facilitate timely disbursement of funds for NEC and ESOs to adequately plan and implement
election activities.
- Amend the constitution to change the election date from rainy season (October) to dry season.
- Expand training programs for security forces to improve preparedness for future elections.
- Reapportion seats in the legislature to coincide with the Liberian census and comply with the provisions of the constitution
- Strengthen collaboration between the LIS and the NEC to prevent ineligible individuals,
particularly non-citizens, from registering to vote.
- Clearly define what constitutes voter’s trucking and enforce violations.
About the ECC:
The Elections Coordinating Committee (ECC) is Liberia’s largest domestic election observation network with diverse competencies, experiences, and expertise in democracy, elections, and governance established since 2010. ECC’s members include the Center for Democratic Governance (CDG); Center for Media Studies and Peace Building (CEMESP); Center for Conflict Prevention and Peacebuilding (CECPAP); Naymote Partners for Democratic Development (NAYMOTE-PADD); West Africa Network for Peace Building (WANEP), and the Women NGO Secretariat of Liberia (WONGOSOL).
This statement is made possible by the generous support of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The contents are the responsibility of the ECC and do not necessarily reflect the views of USAID or the United States Government.
Press contact: Malcolm Joseph, ECC Chairperson
Contact: ECC Secretariat @ 0770176180 Email: jkorkoyah@eccliberia.com Website: eccliberiacom.org