The Chief Justice, His Lordship Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards on Friday October 13, 2023, received the final report from the European Union Electoral Observation Mission to Sierra Leone (EU-EOM) on the June 23 General Elections in a formal ceremony held in the Chief Justice’s Conference Room.
The EU-EOM delegation, led by the EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H. E. Manuel Muller, presented a copy of their report to the Honourable Chief Justice and the Judiciary of Sierra Leone. Ms. Evin Incir, the Chief Electoral Observer of the EU-EOM and a member of the European Parliament, expressed that the report encapsulates the observations of 104 long and short-term observers who meticulously covered the entire electoral cycle.
The report, she explained, contains 21 recommendations that revolve around the principles of transparency, inclusion, and accountability. These recommendations were drawn from the EU-EOM’s work, which spanned from the pre-electoral period to activities during and after the elections, including the tabulation and analysis processes.
Ms. Incir emphasized the honor of serving as the Chief Observer and highlighted the enduring partnership between the European Union and Sierra Leone, which has grown over the years.
Legal Analyst, Sylvian Ollier, discussed the recommendations further, with a particular focus on the need to cleanse the legal framework regarding elections. Additionally, he emphasized the importance of expeditious adjudication of pre-election cases, particularly those related to Presidential Candidates and their challenges. Ollier also underscored the necessity of prompt results handling in the event of a runoff.
In his welcoming remarks, Chief Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards noted that the recommendations provided are general in nature and do not specifically pertain to the Judiciary due to the absence of election petitions before the Court—either before, during or after the elections. He assured that the recommendations would be carefully examined and addressed where necessary.
The Chief Justice took the opportunity to express his gratitude to the European Union for their unwavering support to the Judiciary through the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). He cited the numerous initiatives undertaken, including the organization of four separate training sessions for Judges on electoral laws, the development of an improved compendium on electoral laws and a revised curriculum.
H. E. Manuel Muller, the EU Ambassador, reaffirmed the European Union’s commitment to supporting the Judiciary of Sierra Leone in areas that have been identified for assistance.
