By Alpha Abu
The National Security Council Coordinating Group (NSCCG) led by the National Security Coordinator Abdulai Caulker has today commenced engagements with decentralized security committees and other stakeholders in the provinces so as to discuss solutions that could ensure the peaceful conduct of the 24th June General Elections.
A statement from the Strategic Communications Unit, Office of National Security (ONS) says the aim of the engagements is to ‘’strengthen coordination, cooperation, and collaboration among security sector stakeholders across the country and to brainstorm possible solutions to address emerging and outstanding security challenges’’.
According to the statement, the announcement of a date for the polls has prompted the security sector, in conjunction with Elections Management Bodies (EMBs) to put in place ‘’the necessary resources and planning to be able to effectively provide the required security for the peaceful conduct of the elections’’.
‘’ This comes against the background that several bye-elections conducted between 2018 and 2022, were violent in nature and lessons learned during those elections resulted in the security sector reviewing its strategies that saw the policing of other succeeding elections without major security hitch’’, the statement continues.
The engagements will also ‘’enable Heads of security sector players to meet with their respective representatives at regional and district levels to support them as they participate in their security committees and to bolster their confidence’’.
It is expected that at the end of the meetings “members of the decentralised security committees would have fully understood the importance of coordination, collaboration, and cooperation in the delivery of security service and conflict resolution in their respective areas of responsibility”.
Also, it is expected that from the meetings, the NSCCG would have fully understood ‘’the dynamics of the perennial security challenges across the regions with a view to bringing such to the attention of the Executive for policy direction’’.
The trip comes at a time of proliferation of hate messages on social media, heightening tension across the country in the run-up to the polls.
In early March and last month, the security sector summoned representatives of political parties, the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), civil society activists, entertainers, bloggers, and the mainstream media to again express its revulsion at the misuse of social media to stoke up hate and tension in the country.
At last month’s engagement, the security sector boss issued a stern warning against those peddling inflammatory messages through social media, vowing tougher lawful actions against them.
Last week the PPRC and the Security Sector engaged the leadership of the All Peoples Congress (APC) that include the party’s Secretary-General Lansana Dumbuya, former Freetown Mayor Yvonne Aki-Sawyer, Publicity Secretary Sidi Yayah Tunis and Organising Secretary Bai Mamoud Bangura.
The APC delegation had raised concerns about what they say is the uneven treatment directed against party members by the Police. Inspector-General of Police William Fayia Sellu assured them of the Police providing a level playing field for all the political actors.
The National Security Coordinator Abdulai Caulker in his reaction said he was pleased with the discussions but reiterated the resolve of the security forces to forestall any acts of lawlessness from any quarter.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (15/05/23)
