Juli Endee on peace, unity and reconciliation

Former Cultural Ambassador Juli Endee urges Liberians to herald peace, unity, and reconciliation for national development.

By: Emmanuel Wise Jipoh

Monrovia, Liberia, September 3, 2024 –The head of the Liberia Crusader for Peace (LCP), Juli Endee, has urged Liberians to champion peace, unity, and reconciliation. 

Madam Endee, speaking recently on the sidelines of the 21st Anniversary of the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement organized by the Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation in partnership with the University of Liberia, Madam Endee rallied Liberians to look out for what unites them, rather than what divides them, noting that a genuine reconciliation should be the pillar moving the nation forward.

“In order to move forward as a nation, let us have genuine reconciliation, inclusivity, loving one another, setting aside our differences and understanding the peace that we have enjoyed over the years”, Madam Endee urged.

She also called on Liberians to denounce violence and embrace the culture of peace, dialogue, and inclusivity through community engagements to enhance national development.

“Let us denounce violence and embrace a culture of peace, and to do that, there should be more engagement with the people; let us bring them together with continuous dialogue with those who feel their rights have been trampled on, and our development will move forward.”

She emphasized that dialogue and inclusivity are hallmarks of progress for any nation, saying, “We cannot promote peace in dishonesty, and to be sincere in promoting peace, there must be genuine reconciliation and continuous communication.

She said genuine reconciliation signifies love and respect and acceptance for one another which repair fracture, and requires everyone involved acknowledging their wrongs and forgiving one another.

Every year on August 18, Liberia celebrates the Accra Comprehensive Peace Agreement that brokered peace among warring factions and restored democratic governance since 2005.

Also speaking briefly, Prof. Dr. Al-Hassan Conteh, Acting President of the University of Liberia, urged Liberians to embrace Justice as the key to maintaining peace. He stressed a need to put aside all differences and uphold honesty through inclusivity to move the nation forward.

“We have to have a society where every segment will feel a part of it – the youths, the women, the disabled, everyone, and Justice and inclusiveness should be the key to maintaining the peace we enjoy as a nation,” Dr. Conteh said.

Meanwhile, this year’s peace celebration was held at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf-Ministerial Complex in Congo Town under the theme: “Reconciling and uniting for sustainable peace in Liberia.” It brought together scores of organizations, including the United Nations Human Rights, Liberia Crusader for Peace, the Mano River Union, and AGIAMONDO. Editing by Jonathan Browne