By Alpha Abu
The country’s two main political parties - the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party and the opposition All People’s Congress in a bid to diffuse an upsurge in political rhetoric that had the propensity of undermining the peace and stability of the state, have issued a joint statement agreeing to forge a common ground in addressing the problem.
The statement dated 3rd June 2024, signed by Umaru Napoleon Koroma and Lansana Dumbuya -the two respective scribes of the SLPP and APC expressed both parties’ commitment to responsible free speech and freedom of the press.
Concerns were raised about hate speech by some political commentators within and outside Sierra Leone that the statement says is “unacceptable and contrary to the values of both the SLPP and APC”. “Free speech should not be used to incite violence”, and also “individuals should not be disparaged based on ethnicity, nationality, religion, gender or political affiliation’’.
Both parties solicited the support of the country’s international partners for fair play in serving justice whilst also admonishing Sierra Leoneans to engage in respectful dialogue, and avoid personal attacks and threats of violence in anticipation of the final report of the Electoral Review Committee within the tripartite body set up in the wake of opposition to the outcome of the 23rd June, 2023 General Elections.
After the June 23 Election results were announced the APC contested the outcome of the results citing irregularities.
But opinion on this was split; National Elections Watch- a consortium of civil society organisations claimed there were irregularities in collating the results but other bodies such as the regional bloc ECOWAS and the executive of the All Political Parties Association (APPA) endorsed the results of the elections. APC representatives selected by the party for parliamentary seats under the proportional representation system boycotted parliament and vowed not to attend sessions until the party’s concerns regarding the elections were addressed.
After protracted engagements between the APC and SLPP facilitated by international partners such as the Commonwealth, the US Embassy, and ECOWAS, a consensus was reached for the formation of a tripartite group that would address the underlying problems surrounding elections in Sierra Leone over the years.
The APC members of Parliament eventually took up their seats, though before that time there were dissensions already as two of their members had broken ranks, and taken up their seats in parliament ahead of their party’s change of heart.
The electoral review committee is charged with the responsibility of coming up with recommendations for future elections, to create a more transparent process that will be acceptable to all as a true reflection of the will of the electorate.
Incendiary statements have been circulating on social media over the years that have targeted political opponents and certain ethnic groups in the country. These inflammatory messages have come from mostly Sierra Leoneans living abroad.
A reaction to such diatribes by overseas-based Sierra Leoneans led to violent protests in August 2021 in some parts of the country that led to the death of dozens of people including police officers.
Meanwhile, the anticipated deployment of a standby regional Military Force to Sierra Leone to be named ECOMIL, according to the current Presidential spokesman, Alpha Kanu was an idea first conceived during the tenure of former President Ernest Bai Koroma. Sierra Leone is to serve as a centre for possible response to any emergency in any of the West African states.
Kanu, in a media interview, dispelled hints that the force was coming on the invitation of current President Julius Maada Bio, insisting it’s a culmination of years of planning since the days of the erstwhile regime.
The region has experienced a series of coups in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Guinea over the last five years.
Here in Sierra Leone, loyal troops foiled an attempted coup by elements within the military in November 2023 that left some 22 dead, most of them security personnel.
Copyright © 2024 Politico (05/06/24)
