By: Julius Konton
A coalition of young leaders pushing for electoral reforms within the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) has reaffirmed its demand that the upcoming FLY elections must be free, fair, and transparent.
The reform bloc insists that anything less would jeopardize the credibility of the federation and betray the aspirations of millions of young Liberians who depend on FLY for meaningful representation.
According to Samuel James Kpartor their fight is no longer about personal ambition, but about protecting the integrity of this generation and restoring dignity to FLY.
“Until we can have a free, fair, and transparent election, we remain resolute and unwavering in our pursuit of genuine change, and this is not about us again, it is about safeguarding the hope and trust of Liberian youth, Kpartor reemphasized.
He cautioned that repeating past practices of manipulation and political interference would only reinforce a broken system.
“If we fail to get it right now, it will remain business as usual, and we would have betrayed the hope of those who believe in accountable and visionary youth leadership”, he added.
The reformist referenced the powerful words of anti-colonial philosopher Frantz Fanon:
Saying, “Each generation must, out of relative obscurity, discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it.”
Kpartor maintains that their mission is clear and that is to correct the longstanding wrongs within FLY and restore confidence in youth leadership.
“Our mission is to correct the wrongs that have long permeated FLY, and no amount of persuasion or manipulation will sway our drive for change,” he reaffirmed.
The ongoing situation has also drew the attention of Civil society groups and independent youth advocates all have expressed strong support for the demand for electoral transparency.
Sarah Toe, Program Officer at the Youth Governance and Accountability Network, said ensuring transparency is essential for strengthening youth democracy:
“Young people have been marginalized for too long in decision-making spaces. A transparent process at FLY is not a demand, it is a democratic right”, she said.
A student leader at the University of Liberia, James Koffa, echoed similar sentiments, noting that young people are tired of business-as-usual politics:
“If youth leadership starts with manipulation, then the cycle of bad governance will continue. We support a process where leaders are chosen through merit, not influence”, James noted.
International development partners monitoring youth governance issues also welcomed the reform push.
A representative of a regional youth development organization, speaking on condition of anonymity, said:
“What we are seeing from Liberian youth is encouraging. Reform begins when young people demand accountability not just from government, but from their own institutions.”
As the election timeline approaches, all eyes are on the Federation of Liberian Youth.
Civil society organizations, student movements, and regional observers say they will continue watching closely to ensure the process respects democratic principles.
Whether FLY chooses transparency or maintains the status quo may define the credibility of youth leadership for years to
