The African Union High Representative for Silencing the Guns, Dr Mohamed Ibn Chambas, has indicated the critical importance of credible elections in preventing violence in the country as the nation goes to the polls.

He warned against the risks posed by poorly conducted elections, noting that they have often been the root of unrest in the sub-region.

Speaking in an interview with JoyNews on the importance of credible electoral processes, he stressed that contentious elections often lead to widespread instability if not well-managed.

Read also: ‘When processes are transparent, acceptance is high’ – Ibn Chambas on election credibility

“There are many causes of violence—remote and immediate—but one of the triggering factors has always been poorly conducted elections. If we have contentions around elections, it can trigger violence, and if not well managed, it can spiral out of control in our sub-region,” he cautioned.

He referenced Liberia’s civil war, citing flawed elections in 1986 and 1987 as the root cause of the conflict.

“Most Liberians did not believe in the election result and did not accept the result. This triggered a civil war,” he explained.

Praising Ghana’s history of peaceful elections, the former ECOWAS president called the country a model for electoral management.

He added, “We have succeeded in holding credible, violence-free elections eight times, and this is our ninth. There is a high expectation that we will continue to excel,” he said.