Africa (Commonwealth Union) _ On Wednesday, clashes erupted between police and protesters who support Sierra Leone’s opposition party, the All-People’s Congress (APC). The protesters accuse the electoral commission and its chairman, Mohamed Konneh, of bias in favor of the ruling party.
The demonstrators are demanding a more detailed voter register, aiming for a credible election. They emphasize that their protest is not against the current government but rather a call for fairness in the electoral process. They believe that if the election is free and fair, there would be no need for protests.
The protesters have raised concerns with the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), but they feel that their issues have not been adequately addressed. They argue that their demands represent the majority opinion in the country and that Chairman Konneh should listen to the people.
Thirteen candidates are competing for the presidency in Sierra Leone, but experts predict that the race will primarily be between incumbent President Julius Maada Bio, seeking a second term after being elected in 2018, and Samura Kamara, the leader of the All-People’s Congress Party, the main opposition group in Sierra Leone.
To win in the first round, a candidate must secure at least 55% of the vote. Otherwise, a runoff between the top two candidates will take place within two weeks.
Over three million people are registered to vote in the upcoming election, which marks the country’s fifth presidential election since the end of the brutal 11-year civil war that occurred over two decades ago. The civil war resulted in significant casualties and devastated Sierra Leone’s economy.
Sierra Leone has witnessed two peaceful transfers of power from the ruling party to the opposition party since the end of the civil war, highlighting the importance of a democratic electoral process in the country.
