3.3 million vote as polls open in Sierra Leone

 

Source: Wademos Twitter

Over 3 million Sierra Leoneans are voting today to elect a new president for the next 5 years.

This is the West African country’s fifth election since the civil war ended in 2002.

Incumbent President, Julius Maada Bio is hoping to lead the country for another 5 years while his 2018 contender and leader of the opposition, Samura Kamara promising to unify the country and rebuild the economy.

Voting was expected to commence at 7am across the country but European union observers acknowledged delays at several polling stations.

Reporters of the local AYV News also reported several instances of delay across the country, substantiating the claims of the EU observers.

Aside the president, voters are also voting to choose MPs and councilors in all 16 electoral districts.

The two leading candidates, Bio and Kamara preciously faced off in 2018 where the latter who was handpicked by then president, Bai Koroma, lost to Bio who was the leader of the opposition in a runoff.

In all, 12 candidates are contesting to defeat the incumbent including one Iye Kakay who is the only woman in the race.

According to the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone, polls will close at 5pm local time.

#SierraLeoneDecides - The Apps and Software supporting the election

 

Since the end of the civil war in Sierra Leone in 2002, the country has held five presidential elections and all of these elections have consistently been declared free, fair and peaceful. However, it has not always been plain-sailing as the process sometimes experiences some setbacks in ensuring a completely safe and just expression of democracy.

The government, Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) and other involved organizations often implement physical and practical structures such as extra security and campaigns. But, with the growth of technology these organization have utilized some tools to offset any issues identified in previous elections to ensure a credible 2023 election.   

Misinformation and Fake News

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) has been steadfastly working to ensure the spread of misinformation is restricted and that citizens are well informed. They do this by firstly, providing varying means for citizens to contact them through their website (including leaving a voice-message on the website through a voice option). 

There is also a link to iVerify, a fact checking initiative implemented by the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) and the Independent Radio Network with support from BBC Media Action and United Nations Development Programme. 

The ECSL website uses AI and human intervention to verify and provide a verdict on whether rumors/news that is being shared is either true, false, unproven or misleading. A quick scan through the website reveals the user-friendly and simple structure making it easy for people to use and understand.

Gender Based Violence

In May 2023 the Minister of Gender and Children’s Affairs (MGCA) launched a Gender Based ViolenceInformation Management System to respond to increased risks against women and girls in this month’s election. The cloud software will assist Gender Based Violence service providers to securely receive, organize and share case information through a systemically monitored electronic process. The software will also help service providers send electronic referrals and remotely supervise each other. 7 laptops, 20 computers and 16 motorbikes have also been donated by the UNICEF Representative to the MGCA to undertake this activity.

Access to Information

It can be difficult to access the right information about the elections given the deluge of information on the internet and that which includes propaganda spread by political parties. Therefore, the Institute for Governance Reform has launched an app which focusses on ensuring people are well-informed for the upcoming elections. The app features a ‘Bio-Meter’, which has assessed 496 out of the 536 previous campaign promises of President Bio (current leader of Sierra Leone). The app sources information from the Electoral Commission and other formal election institutions to provide details on the political parties and citizen manifestos, electoral system and new proportional representation system. It also explains how citizens can cast votes, the names of districts and the number of polling stations.

After going through the app, AEP can conclude that it is an inspiring initiative which appears to be easy to navigate. It also hosts an election quiz as a fun way to test one’s knowledge and does provide several opportunities to learn about different aspects of the elections. However, it is still a work in progress as some pages such as the ‘Nominated Candidates’ are still labeled “coming soon”.

Only 7 parties out of the 17 currently have some information on the app, and it is very text heavy. Furthermore, the Chat box is not efficient, as it was unable to answer questions about why only 7 parties were described and how one can vote in the upcoming election.

 AEP

Get the latest news and updates on elections in Africa by following us on twitter @africanelection and like our Facebook page: African Elections Project.

 

 

 

Countdown to #SierraLeoneElections2023: Meet the Leading Candidates

With Sierra Leone's general elections just around the corner on June 24, 2023, the presidential race is heating up as political parties and their candidates make bold moves to win over voters. The political atmosphere is charged up with intense campaigns, strategic alliances are being formed, backed with manifesto promises as the front runners gear up to convince voters to give them the mandate to lead the nation for the next five years.

In all, the electoral commission has gazetted the names of thirteen (13) presidential candidates and parties who have come forward to contest the 2023 elections.

So far, two candidates stand tall in the presidential race. They are Dr. Samura Kamara of the All Peoples Congress (APC) and incumbent president Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP).

The African Elections Project provides a profile of the leading candidates and what they stand for.

Dr. Samura Kamara of the All Peoples Congress (APC)

Dr. Samura Kamara,72, was born in the town of Kamalo in the Karene District of the northern province of Sierra Leone.  Mr. Kamara obtained his bachelor’s degree in economics from Fourah Bay College in Freetown, Sierra Leone, and has a PhD in Economics from Bangor University in North Wales, United Kingdom.

As a policy technocrat, he has worked with the Commonwealth, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund. He has also served in several political capacities including foreign minister, finance minister and the governor of the central bank of Sierra Leone between 2007 to 2017.

As finance minister, Dr. Samura is credited with instituting practical policies that resulted in the expansion of Sierra Leone’s banking sector.

In the last presidential election in 2018, Dr. Samura Kamara was nominated as the APC’s presidential candidate but was unsuccessful in his bid to become the President of Sierra Leone after losing to Bio, a former military ruler who had also lost a presidential bid four years earlier.

If elected president, the leader of the APC pledges to expand access to education, support small businesses to create jobs and unify the country.

Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP)

Julius Maada Bio, 58, is the current president of Sierra Leone. Born in Tihun, a village in the Sogbini Chiefdom, Bonthe District, in the Southern Province of Sierra Leone, Mr. Bio was elected into office after securing 51.8% of the total votes cast against his then opponent, Samura Kamara. As the president of Sierra Leone, he claims he is still committed to transforming the country’s economy, advancing human capital development, promoting good governance, improving infrastructure, and overhauling the financing of the public sector. 

Prior to being elected president, Mr. Bio was a senior research fellow at the University of Bradford in the U.K. and was pursuing a doctorate in peace studies. Bio has a long history of public service, beginning with the Sierra Leone Army, where he rose to the rank of Brigadier. He was a member of a group of military officers who led a bloodless coup in 1992 against the regime of President Joseph Saidu Momoh. During the period of 1992–1996, when the country was attempting to transition to democracy, he served as Head of State in 1996 and oversaw the first democratic elections in Sierra Leone in three decades. Following that election, Bio withdrew from the military and temporarily relocated to the United States, where he pursued a Masters in International Affairs at The American University in Washington.

Once again, Bio will be running for the second time on the ticket of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), despite his first term being marred by economic hardship and rampant inflation in a country still recovering from the coronavirus pandemic.

President Bio has promised to boost food production, create 500,000 jobs and build an efficient public sector in the second term of his administration.

CharlesMargai of the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC)

Charles Margai, 77, hails from a family of Prime Ministers with his father and uncle serving as Prime Ministers of Sierra Leone.
He is a lawyer and served a short stint as a former Attorney General of the Republic of Sierra Leone in 2018.

Margai has also served as a Minister of International Affairs and Local Government as well as Safety and Security in 1998 and 1999 respectively.

This is his fourth attempt to lead the country after placing third in the 2007 elections and failing at two other attempts in 2012 and 2018 on the ticket of the PMDC which he formed in 2005.

Others

The other candidates in the presidential race are Abdulai Saccoh of the Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP); Beresford Williams of the Republic National Independent Party (ReNIP); Mohamed Bah of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA); Iye Kakay of the Alliance Democratic Party (ADI) and Jonathan Sandy of the National Unity and Reconciliation Party (NURP); Jonjo Mohammed of the Citizen’s Democratic Party (CDP); Musa Kamara of the Peace and Liberation Party (PLP); Prince Coker of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP); Mohamed Sowa-Turay of the United Democratic Movement and Henry Kabuta of the United National Peoples Party.

AEP

Get the latest news and updates on elections in Africa by following us on twitter @africanelection and like our Facebook page: African Elections Project.

 

Sierra Leone EC announces dates for campaigns ahead of country's general elections

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone has set Saturday, June 24, 2023, as the day for its general elections across the country.

Ahead of the election, the EC has announced the opening of campaign period for the presidential, parliamentary and local council elections from Tuesday 23rd May to 22nd June 2023.

This comes after close consultations by the Electoral Commission with registered political parties and candidates contesting in the upcoming general elections, the EC said.

In a press release signed by the Chief Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, Mr. Mohamed Kenewu Konneh, the publication of the election calendar is in fulfillment of the powers conferred on the Commission by Sections 154 of the Public Elections Act 2022 (Act No. 17 of 22).

The press release also contained an extensive calendar of campaign events for 16 districts  of the country.

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission is admonishing all political parties, candidates, and their supporters to abide by all the laws and regulations on election campaigns as well as  the PPRC regulatory framework on political campaigns that political parties have signed up to.

Read the full press release below:

2023: 9 key elections to watch in Africa

 

You may be right to call 2023 a “year of elections” because it promises to be a busy year for African politics as some in Africa prepare to hold their General Elections. The upcoming elections will include those of Sierra Leone, Zimbabwe, Liberia, Gabon, Madagascar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Libya, Sudan and Africa's biggest, happening in Nigeria.

Nigeria

The election train will first stop in Nigeria as former Lagos state governor Bola Tinubu, People's Democratic Party's Atiku Abubakar and Peter Obi battle it out as frontrunners in the race to succeed President Buhari.

Nigeria's February general election promises to be an interesting one as it has raised a great deal of expectation among young voters who are eager to see the end of President Muhammadu Buhari's rule. Particularly due to the fact that, the country is currently grappling with economic downturn and heightened insecurity.

Sierra Leone

In June, Sierra Leone will hold its presidential and parliamentary elections. President Julius Maada Bio is expected to seek a second term. His Sierra Leone People's Party will be hoping to retain its majority in the national assembly, which has been threatened by rising discontent over the high cost of living.

Zimbabwe

The third stop of the election train will be in Zimbabwe where President Emmerson Mnangagwa will be hoping to overcome a new challenge by opposition leader Nelson Chamisa whose Citizens Coalition for Change outfit has sought to galvanize the opposition and to correct the mistakes of 2018.

Liberia

As though the twits and turns in Nigeria, Sierra Leone and Zimbabwe won’t be enough, in October, Africa's oldest republic will hold its presidential and parliamentary polls in what will be a milestone for a country still recovering from years of civil war and a devastating epidemic. President George Weah has faced criticism for failing to tackle rampant corruption and for being away from the country to watch the World Cup in Qatar while the country faced an economic downturn.

Gabon

Meanwhile, President Ali Bongo looks set for re-election in Gabon after tacit endorsement by members of his Gabonese Democratic Party. Despite suffering a stroke which left him struggling to walk, the ruling party appears unwilling to retire its 63-year-old leader. The Bongo family has ruled over oil-rich Gabon since 1967.

Madagascar

In November, citizens in Madagascar will put their democratic system of governance to test. 48-year-old President Andry Rajoelina is vying for his second consecutive 5-year term in office. Rajoelina will be competing against Ravalomanana and Hery Rajaonarimampianina, Madagascar’s President from 2014 to 2018. The two opposition figures are expected to form a united platform in the effort to improve their prospects of defeating Rajoelina. The extent to which they can mount a coordinated campaign will determine how seriously they can challenge the incumbent.

Regardless of which candidate emerges victorious from Madagascar’s election, strengthening the mechanisms of popular participation, power sharing, and accountability enabled by institutions like an independent legislature, judiciary, and media will be the real priority of Madagascar’s democratic development.

Democratic Republic of the Congo

Similarly, in December, the Democratic Republic of Congo will hold a general election to choose a new president, national assembly and senate. In power since 2019, President Felix Tshisekedi is expected to seek a second term. Having fallen out with his predecessor whose support secured the presidency for him, Tshisekedi will have to find new allies to face an opposition which has long been doing its preps. Moise Katumbi has already declared intent to run. With the east of the country embroiled in conflict, Tshisekedi might struggle to convince the Congolese he's the change they seek.