By Septimus Senessie in Kono
Following recent acts of violence between supporters of the ruling All People’s Congress and the main opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party in the eastern Kono district, the West African Peace Building Network (WANEP) has organised a whole day of rally in the headquarter town of Koidu ending with a mass meeting in Koquima section where the violent political clash had happened.
The rally attracted civil society organizations, the United Nations, artists and local musicians among others, excepting political parties.
Sarah Risbjerg Olesan, programme officer, Youth and Peace Education of WANEP Sierra Leone, said the rally was organised as part of their activities which had focused on Kono for months because the district had been infamous for political violence especially lately. She said that as political campaigning was coming to a close, they would like to see peaceful, credible and transparent election.
Olesan said her organisation had trained hundreds of youths in the “political hotspots” in the chiefdoms of Tankoro, Gbense and Nimikoro adding that they were trained to ensure peaceful and violence-free elections which she said were important for the development of democracy in the country.
The mediation and programme assistant for the Political Parties Registration Commission in Kono, Karifa Tarawalie described the rally as “timely and appropriate”. He expressed satisfaction at the large turnout, saying “this has shown that the youth of Kono are now ready to uphold peace”.
(c) Politico 08/11/12
