By Mabinty M. Kamara
In a National Address, President Julius Maada Bio has committed to the outcomes of the just- concluded mediation between his government and the main opposition All Peoples Congress (APC) .
“The provisions in this mediated Dialogue Agreement will receive the highest consideration from my Government,” he said adding that “The Government will work with the main opposition party and all other political parties to ensure that it is fully implemented while at the same time respecting and upholding the rule of law which is vital to our young democracy.”
President Bio noted that reviewing our election systems is critical to strengthening the country’s democracy, saying that it is in that spirit he proposed the establishment of a national election system review as a first step to improve the electioneering process in Sierra Leone.
“As we move forward, I urge all Sierra Leoneans to embrace the spirit of unity and reconciliation. Let us unite, set aside our differences, and work towards a brighter future for our beloved nation. We must remember that we are all stakeholders in the progress and prosperity of Sierra Leone,” he said.
He urged the opposition to demonstrate leadership and, in clear conscience, speak out frankly to their supporters that “we must embrace each other and ensure peace and stability in Sierra Leone,” adding that compromise is the indispensable hallmark of governance.
The president welcomes the participation of the APC members in the various elective institutions.
“I look forward to further engagements with the APC leadership within and beyond the proposed inter-party framework. We should and must all come together to pursue the broader national development issues, including strengthening our governance systems and social programmes,” he said.
He admonished citizens that the just concluded dialogue transcends politics and political divides, saying that it is about “our country and our people, and we must continue to work hard to promote the values of inclusiveness and unity’’.
‘’My Government will work tirelessly to address the concerns and aspirations of our citizens. We will focus on fostering economic growth, improving education, healthcare, agriculture productivity, and infrastructure, and ensuring that all Sierra Leoneans feel the benefits of our development efforts,”he stated
The president called on all to safeguard the country’s democracy, saying that Sierra Leoneans “are tired of political bickering, hate speech and disunity and together, we must say, never again.”
He noted that it is time to focus energies, ideas, and collective will toward a national agenda that delivers food security, provides jobs for our youth, empowers our women, and propel our nation into a middle-income economy.
The just concluded mediation dialogue headed by Gambia’s former Vice President Madam Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang was aimed at ending the political impasse following the June 2023 General Elections. The resolution reached indicates that the APC Parliamentarians and Council Representatives are to take their seats in Parliament and Local Councils, respectively, ending a boycott that the opposition staged, in protest over the June 24 General Election results. The President will in consultation with the APC constitute a cross party committee on electoral systems and management bodies review with a three way leadership nominated by the government, the APC and development partners. Both parties agreed to the institutionalization of an inter-party dialogue framework between the APC , SLPP and other Political parties which will be facilitated by the government.
Both parties also commited to reengineer and rekindle the relationship between the national socio political eco system such as the president and former political leaders (former president and Vice president), the APC and SLPP leadership.
It was also agreed that government and the APC condemn all citizens at home and abroad who incite violence, spread hate speech and disrupt national cohesion both online and offline, and that the parties commit and act to implement the agreement reached during the mediation dialogue for which an independent committee shall be created.
Discontinuation of any politically -motivated cases against the APC and other parties and their supporters, release of any persons arrested, detained or imprisoned for alleged elections and civil protests informed by a list to be submitted by the APC and other political parties be considered by the government, were among the requests forwarded in the agreement.
Copyright © 2023 Politico (25/10/23)
