PUL President Underscores Respect for Rule of Law and Media Rights at Second Media-Security Conference in Buchanan

By: J. Mason Kollie |Lofa correspondent

‎Monrovia, Liberia| January 6,2026|The Press Union of Liberia (PUL) remains unwavering in its commitment to the rule of law and the protection of media rights, and urges all stakeholders to uphold an environment free of harassment and intimidation for journalists nationwide.

Speaking at the opening of the second regional Media-Security Conference in Buchanan, PUL President Julius Kanubah emphasized that Liberia’s democratic progress is intrinsically linked to respect for the rule of law and the media’s professional conduct. “The democratic development of Liberia hinges on the rule of law, complemented by the professional work of the media,” Mr. Kanubah stated.

He further highlighted the importance of fostering a constructive partnership between the media and the security sector to safeguard electoral integrity. “This media-security conference is a vital step toward strengthening and consolidating electoral integrity and security in Liberia. Electoral integrity depends on professionalism and adherence to best practices by all stakeholders in the electoral process. The media and security sectors are two critical pillars of a credible electoral system,” Mr. Kanubah asserted.

The Buchanan conference is the second of three regional gatherings organized under the auspices of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the National Elections Commission (NEC), in collaboration with the Joint Security and the Press Union of Liberia.

The conference aims to review and revise the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) governing collaboration, cooperation, and coordination between the media and security agencies during election periods.

Nearly 50 representatives from the media, police, immigration services and drug enforcement agency across Sinoe, RiverCess, Grand Bassa, Bomi, Gbarpolu, and Montserrado Counties are participating in the three-day event. The conference is a key component of the Liberia Electoral Support Project, managed by UNDP and supported by the European Union, Ireland, and Sweden.

In remarks at the opening session, the Executive Director of the NEC, Anthony Sengbe, and the UNDP Program Officer, Roosevelt Zayzay, underscored the need for a peaceful, collaborative relationship between the media and security sectors to ensure the credibility and integrity of Liberia’s electoral processes.

Deputy Commissioner of Police and Head of the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) at the Liberia National Police, Augustine Browne, also acknowledged the importance of mutual respect between media professionals and law enforcement officers in the effective execution of their respective mandates.

Conference sessions focus on critical topics, including the NEC’s Electoral Cycle, Election Security and Law Enforcement, the Media’s Role in Elections, Coordination and Crisis Communication. A roundtable discussion reflecting on lessons learned from the 2023 elections regarding media-security engagement is also being facilitated by staff from UNDP, NEC, PUL, and LNP.

The first in a series of three media-security conferences was held in December 2025 in Zwedru, Grand Gedeh County, and brought together 46 journalists and law enforcement officials from Maryland, Grand Kru, River Gee, and Grand Gedeh Counties.

The third and final regional conference, involving Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Bong, Lofa, and Nimba Counties, is scheduled for next week. Upon completion of the regional meetings, a validation session will be held to finalize the revised SOP, further solidifying the framework for media-security collaboration in Liberia’s electoral landscape.