Last week, Leone Rock Metals Company, a subsidiary of Kingho Rail and Port Company, officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding with CTC Mining Company, a Bauxite mining company in the country, for the use of the railway and port storage facilities, in contravention of the notice of termination of its contract by the Government issued recently to the company.
This action by Leone Rock Metals has been seen as an open challenge to the authority of the Government and a clear violation of the notice of termination issued to the company by the Government. It could be recalled that recently the Government of Sierra Leone, which is the Landlord and owner of the rail and port at Pepel in northern Sierra Leone, issued a notice of termination to Leone Rock Mining with its subsidiary, Kingho Rail and Port Company, which had earlier been contracted to manage the rail and port facilities of the Government and people of Sierra Leone.
The said agreement between the Government and Kingho, was for six years, but with a caveat that after two years, the said contract can be reviewed, and if the Government is not satisfied, it has the right to enter into another agreement with a third party. Now, the Government has signed a contract with Arise IIP to manage the rail and port at Pepel and to further expand same for other rail users to have access to it.
However, the said notice was questioned by Kingho and an insinuation that they were going to take legal action against the Government on the termination of the said contract. But, as we go to Press, no such notice of Court action has been received by the Government to warrant it to put any hold on the desire to continue with the new contract entered into with Arise IIP. Thus, the said termination still stands, in the absence of any restrictive order from any competent court of law on the action of the government.
Against this back drop, the recent signing of the MoU with CTC Mining for the use of the rail and port is considered null and void, and an open challenge to the Government and people of Sierra Leone, who are the owners of the facilities.
Over fifty five Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) across the country have called on President Bio to append his signature to the existing Tobacco and Nicotine Bill, which was enacted by Members of Parliament in order to translate the bill into law. They made this passionate appeal during a workshop organized by FOCUS 1000 at the CCSL Conference Hall on King Harman Road on the 30th March, 2023.
It will be recalled that the Parliament of Sierra Leone unanimously agreed to pass into law the Tobacco and Nicotine Act of 2022 on the 3rd August 2022. It is now over six months that the Parliamentarians acted but people are yet to know whether the President have assented it or not.
Giving an overview of the Workshop, Sulaiman Stom Koroma, the Consultant and Public Officer of FOCUS 1000 intimated that engagement was organized to give the Civil Society Organizations an idea about what the Bill is about.
According to him, Parliament passed the Tobacco and Nicotine Act into law stating that according to the law, after Parliament passes a Bill, the approval of the President is needed before it is been used.
He maintained that, from last year to now they have not seen the President signed it into law further disclosing that when they enquired from Parliament they responded by saying it was sent to the President.
“We are in a position wherein we cannot tell where the Bill is, or who is in possession of the Bill,” he lamented adding how they could not tell whether the President has signed it or not disclosing how it is against such a backdrop that they are calling on these CSOs to join them in the fight.
He said the need to pass the Tobacco and Nicotine Act came at a time when the country ratified the WHO framework on the Convention on Tobacco Control which is aimed at protecting present and future generations.
During the engagement, CSOs had the opportunity to learn about key provisions in the bill.
Civil Society Organizations who witnessed the engagement made lots of positive contributions as well as a passionate call on the President to sign the bill.
The representative of Defense for Children said cigarette smoking should be banned once and for all further expressing disappointment at the security forces saying instead of implementing the law they are also into cigarette smoking.
He maintained that some of those who make the law are in cigarette smoking, adding that there is a high level of hypocrisy in the country. He promised engaging his congregation on cigarette smoking and the harm that are related to it.
The Institute for Governance Reform representative, Gabor Gervai, noted that people must not wait for laws to be passed for them to protect their own lives stating that Tobacco and Nicotine can cause Cancer and the need for people to desist from it. “Don’t gamble your own lives,” he admonished.
Lynton O. R. D. Jones, Esq, who happens to be a Parliamentary Counsel and Legislative Drafter, explained in detail key provisions in the Act that the importers and other business people must follow. Lawyer Jones also pointed out the penalties attached for those who may disobey the law.
Head of Communicable Diseases, Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MoHS), Dr. Santigie Sesay revealed that tobacco-related products contain about 5,000 toxic substances, adding that the most dangerous compounds are nicotine, tar and carbon monoxide.
Dr. Sesay continued that tobacco causes various kinds of cancer in the human body, adding that tobacco kills half of those who smoke it. He added that smoking leads to disabilities and diseases, noting that it is harmful to every organ of the human body. “For anybody who dies of tobacco, it leaves 30 people with a serious illness,” he disclosed.
Dr. Sesay also mentioned that 3,300 deaths in Sierra Leone are attributed to tobacco, noting that 900 of the above figures died as a result of second-hand smoking.
He revealed that 4,000 children between ages 10 and 14 years, whereas, 955,000 adults aged 15 and above use tobacco daily.
“In 2017, tobacco cost Sierra Leone’s economy SLL 403. 9 billion (15% of its GDP),” Dr Sesay revealed.
On 29 April 2023, the Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) will be organizing a National Peace Matching/Walking/Jogging Day under the theme “I STAND FOR PEACE”. This event is hoping to attract up to Five Million Citizens from all works of life across all 16 political and administrative districts in Sierra Leone. Participants will include members from the following groups:
Youth Groups
Women’s Groups
Market Women
Old Folks
School Groups
Football and Athletics Groups
Bike and Kekeh Riders Association
Ghetto Boys and Girls
Professional Institutions (Bankers, Lawyers, Journalists etc)
The Business Class (Mobile Companies, Mining Companies, Trade and Export Companies etc)
Prior to the event, IPCNC will engage Leaders of these various groups in all the districts and hold meetings with them to plan this Nationwide event. Some of the issues to be discussed in the meetings will include: Time, Assembly areas, Routes to be used, Security arrangements, Duration of the event, Logistical arrangements (Tee Shirts, Banners, Placards, etc that will be carrying Peace Messages).
On the Day of the event, IPCNC and Partners, alongside Security Personnel will accompany participants in all the 16 districts during the match/walking/jogging. Everyone participating in the event will be wearing printed Tee shirts with the inscription “I STAND FOR PEACE”. Citizens will be encouraged to come out with traditional social event instruments like; drums, trumpets, Vuvuzelas, Pot Covers etc, to make the loudest noise for Peace. There will also be School and National Brass Bands to accompany the processions.
The media will be invited to cover such events and broadcast through news bulletins and other media programs.
It is expected that there shall be a Presidential Address at the end of the Event.
The Sierra Leone Chamber of Agribusiness Development (SLeCAD), with support from the International Trade Centre (ITC) through its West African Competitiveness Project (WACOMP), on the 22nd to 24th February, 2023, conducted three-day training for 30 Agribusiness Companies, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Cooperatives on advocacy skills and public private dialogue.
The training was hosted at the Royal Hotel on Magbroka Road in Makeni and participants were drawn from Kono, Tonkolili, Port Loko, Kambia, Bombali, Western Area Urban and Rural districts.
The objective of the training was to build on the advocacy and lobbying capacities of existing cooperatives, SMEs, Agribusiness companies and sector associations to improve on the Business Environment and Trade Integration for the Cocoa, Cassava and Palm Oil value chains in Sierra Leone.
ITC has been working in close cooperation with SLeCAD, an organization with long standing expertise and broad membership in the agribusiness and agriculture sectors in Sierra Leone and around the globe.
The activity relates to providing support to key institutions like SLeCAD in the provision of services to their members and engagement in effective policy dialogue with the Government on sensitive topics for farmers, producers and exporters including access to inputs, product inspection rules.
In his opening statement, SLeCAD Executive Secretary, Ahmed Nanoh welcomed participants to the training session and encouraged them to use the session as an opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in advocacy, to ensure the improvement of the business environment and trade integration for cocoa, cassava, and oil palm that are key commodities for export for S/Leone that will create jobs and wealth, reduce poverty and enhance economic growth in support of the Government’s New Direction Agenda.
He said the business environment has a lot of challenges and red tapes in the Government corridors and that it needs high-level advocacy skills of the agribusiness value chains operators to unlock the Agribusiness and Agro-industrial potentials for the betterment of S/Leone.
“This could only change if the private sector continues to engage the public sector to bring the desired changed,” he stated.
He encouraged participants not to mix politics with business as it will always end to be a defunct business, adding that the agribusiness sector is the largest private sector in the country and if properly managed it would be able to create the needed jobs for the youths, and women in S/Leone where there will be no need for the citizens of S/Leone to go for greener pasture overseas.
He said should Sierra Leone manages the agriculture sector well the country will be one of the best economies in the sub-region, but said that could only be achieved through advocacy and public private dialogue.
He further emphasized that the training will also provide the introduction to the principles and key functions of trade-related advocacy and policy dialogue, share practical examples on how trade-related advocacy and policy dialogue can contribute to improved livelihoods and performances of members and clients, improve on participants’ skills to discuss key linkages between domestic business environment and international trade agreements, help to address opportunities and challenges for Sierra Leone’s businesses in the agricultural sector.
Siaka Kawa, ITC WACOMP National Coordinator, commended the effort of SLeCAD in advocacy and confirmed that ITC finds it vital to partner with SLeCAD to champion the training of agribusiness private sector companies, SMEs and Cooperative in the cocoa, cassava and oil palm to improve on the business environment especially in the area of export promotion and trade integration that will help the Sierra Leone economy to grow and reduce poverty.
He said ITC was excited to support the training since it will unlock the potential of the agriculture sector and promote internal and regional trade key to the economic growth of every country.
He encouraged the participants to be focused and take the training serious in order to enhance their business growth through improved business environment.
Fatmata Baby Sankoh, Coordinator for Kalamerrah Women’s Farmers Association, thanked ITC, EU, UNIDO and SLeCAD for offering the Agribusiness Companies, SMEs and Cooperatives the opportunity to be trained in advocacy skills to enhance the improvement of the business environment that promotes agribusiness growth.
She said she is coordinating over 1,500 farmers producing Palm, but stated that the value of Sierra Leone palm oil in the world market has drastically fallen due to poor quality and lack of improve processing materials. She said that there has been non check and balances in the supervision and regulation of the palm oil sector and making the country to lose huge foreign currency that currently is negatively impacting on the depreciation of the Leones against the US dollar. She concluded by encouraging all agribusiness private sector players to work with the Chamber headed by Ahmed Nanoh to improve on advocacy and make their business competitive and profitable.
Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr. Edward Hinga Sandy, informed participants at the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law Working Group III: Investor-State Dispute Settlement Reform 45th session, that the Government of Sierra Leone is committed to creating the enabling environment to attract foreign direct investment and to protect investors’ rights.
The Minister also acknowledged the need for States to have the right to regulate and be protected to achieve the goals and principles of sustainable development.
“Sierra Leone welcomes the work of Working Group III, particularly on the structural reform option and the proposed establishment of a Multilateral Investment Court to address the current ISDS concerns. We also recognize the value of the significant work to improve the system through bilateral tools and incremental reform,” the Minister said.
Dr. Sandy also took the opportunity to commend the important efforts of the team at the Secretariat in increasing the profile of the work of the Commission and its Working Groups, particularly on investor-State dispute settlement reform. He made reference to August 2019, when Sierra Leone experienced its first investor-State arbitration dispute, adding that although the claim was based on rights held under a large-scale licence agreement to mine iron ore in Sierra Leone, it has been settled.
“It became apparent to the Government of Sierra Leone that the identified and considered concerns regarding ISDS, including cost, were real and impact paralyzing” he said.
The Minister said that the value of the claim was hanging over the Government like the sword of Damocles, adding that the cost of the arbitration, including fees for representation, adversely impacted Government’s decisions to assert a right or defence over the usual duration of ISDS cases, particularly for a least developed country.
The Minister went further to speak about the vital resources that are needed to be spent on development programmes to fulfill the development aspiration of the people, citing the flagship “Free Quality Education Programme”, to which Government has devoted over 21% of the national budget in past years, in commitment to Human Capital Development.
In his conclusion, the Minister stated that finalizing the Code of Conduct will be a concrete demonstration of the laudable work the Working Group can get done, working together on its important mandate on the possible reform of ISDS.
During the handing over of five thousand new Leones to the Executive Director of Residential Elderly Care Foundation on Saturday 25th March, 2023, towards the Ramadan Food Basket, the Chief Executive Officer of AL-HAMD Enterprise, Mohamad Shahroz Ansari, stated that it is not in any way compassionate for people to fail in rendering assistance to others that are in need and continued by encouraging others to start supporting charitable work in the country.
Whiles addressing members of the Charity Foundation, Mohamad Shahroz Ansari, expressed the view that it always feels good to help others as such could reciprocate to members when they are in need further maintaining that it is also psychologically encouraging to know that you have made a difference in someone else’s life.
He averred how Charitable giving can give one’s business a sense of purpose, beyond just making profits, adding that it can strengthen one’s connection with a community and build moral uprightness.
Mohamad Shahroz Ansari revealed how they have supported over 80 Hernia and appendix operations last year further disclosing the offering of scholarships and helping schools to pay teachers in remote communities through the LIMRA Charity Foundation.
Receiving the donation, on behalf of the Foundation, the Executive Director of Residential Elderly Care Foundation, Karifa Thoronka thanked the CEO of AL-HAMD Enterprise for their consistent supports towards the Foundation also maintaining that those supports have made a significant impact over the years by supporting hundreds of underprivileged elderly people in Sierra Leone.
The Communications Manager for the Residential Elderly Care Foundation ,Alhaji Ramadan Kallay, pointed out that their philanthropic work and efforts have greatly helped elderly persons in society live better and dignified lives.
Chief Justice, His Lordship Hon. Justice Desmond Babatunde Edwards has on the 30th March, 2023 disclosed at the United Nations Headquarters in New York that every Court would always be accused of being biased in favour of those who form it, but that presumption could be outlived if the Court personnel are dedicated to dispense justice in an independent, transparent and neutral manner.
The Hon. Chief Justice was addressing the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Group (WGIII) on the proposed establishment of a Multilateral Investment Court. He spoke about the criticisms against the Multilateral Investment Court, noting that “those criticisms are not new as every Court would always be accused of being biased.”
As the Keynote Speaker, the Hon. Chief Justice honoured the invitation of the Permanent Mission of the Republic of Sierra Leone to the United Nations which is hosting a discussion on Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) reform and the proposed establishment of a Multilateral Investment Court (MIC). Chief Justice Edwards’ Keynote statement focuses on the “Future Relations between Domestic Courts and the Multilateral Investment Court.”
In his opening remarks, the Permanent Representative of Sierra Leone to the UN-Ambassador Alhaji Fanday Turay Esq. spoke about the relevance of the event, adding that it provides an opportunity for continuing engagement on the proposed Multilateral Investment Court.
Among the various speakers were Madam Anna Joubin-Bret, Secretary of UNCITRAL and Director, International Trade Law Division in the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs; Mr. Colin Brown, Head of Unit, Legal Aspects of Trade and Sustainable Development and Investment, European Commission, Directorate-General for Trade; Ambassador Dr. Michael Imran Kanu, Deputy Permanent Representative (Legal Affairs) of Sierra Leone to the UN; Dr. Martin Andrew Jarrett, Senior Research Fellow at Max Planck Institute; and Mr. Lauren Mandell, Special Counsel at WilmerHale and representative of United States Council for International Business.
The panel was moderated by Ms. Natalie Yu-Lin Morris-Sharma, Director at the Attorney-General’s Chambers of Singapore, and Rapporteur of UNCITRAL Working Group III.
The Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion (ICPNC) has disclosed that on the 29 April 2023 it will be organizing a National Peace Matching/Walking/Jogging Day under the theme “I STAND FOR PEACE”.
According to the ICPNC, the event is hoping to attract up to Five Million Citizens from all walks of life across all 16 political and administrative districts in Sierra Leone. Participants will include members from the following groups: Youth Groups, Women’s Groups, Market Women, Old Folks, School Groups, Football and Athletics Groups, Bike and Kekeh Riders Association, Ghetto Boys and Girls, Professional Institutions (Bankers, Lawyers, Journalists etc),the Business Class (Mobile Companies, Mining Companies, Trade and Export Companies etc).
IPCNC further disclosed that prior to the event it will engage Leaders of these various groups in all the districts and hold meetings with them to plan the Nationwide event. Some of the issues to be discussed in the meetings will include: Time, Assembly areas, Routes to be used, Security arrangements, Duration of the event, Logistical arrangements (Tee Shirts, Banners, Placards, etc that will be carrying Peace Messages).
On the Day of the event, IPCNC and Partners, alongside Security Personnel will accompany participants in all the 16 districts during the match/walking/jogging. Everyone participating in the event will be wearing printed Tee shirts with the inscription “I STAND FOR PEACE”.
Citizens will be encouraged to come out with traditional social event instruments like; drums, trumpets, Vuvuzelas, Pot Covers etc, to make the loudest noise for Peace. There will also be School and National Brass Bands to accompany the processions.
The media will be invited to cover such events and broadcast through news bulletins and other media programs.
It is expected that there shall be a Presidential Address at the end of the Event.
Some months ago, anti-government protests in Sierra Leone resulted in over a dozen civilian deaths, an internet shutdown, and a nationwide curfew for all citizens. These protests are not the first instance of violence in Sierra Leone.
In recent years, the country has seen thousands of its people killed and millions displaced as a result of its 1991-2002 civil war, the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, the August 14, 2017, mudslide, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March 2018, the country appeared to have found stability after a successful transition of power in its highly anticipated 2018 general elections.
Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) was elected President despite running against a member of the governing party, the All People’s Congress (APC). This shift marked the successful transition of presidential and political party power from the second administration to the third since the end of the civil war in 2002.
Despite the peaceful transition, it has become apparent that the shift in power did not bring the results that many hoped. As the country looks ahead to the 2023 elections, lingering concerns must be addressed to ensure free, transparent, and peaceful political processes long-term.
From 2018-2022, the International Republican Institute (IRI) partnered with other stakeholders in Sierra Leone to produce a program called the Sierra Leone Elections Dialogue Series (SLEDS). This program was implemented as part of efforts to better election processes by increasing the participation of women and other disadvantaged groups in politics, increasing civil advocacy, strengthening media, and building political consensus. During the program, IRI conducted a series of four public opinion polls that informed the project by gauging concerns about political processes (first poll, second poll, third poll, fourth poll). Beyond informing SLEDS activities, IRI’s polls helped to identify concerns that should be addressed in future programming, especially as the country approaches its 2023 elections.
Among these issues are two main shifts in public opinion regarding electoral processes. Since February 2018, trust in the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has fallen by 49 percentage points. In the first poll, 67% of Sierra Leoneans identified that they trust NEC a great deal. By the final poll in January 2022, only 18% identified that they trust the NEC a great deal. In addition to this decline, following the 2018 elections, 54% of people believed that the country was headed in the right direction. However, IRI’s latest poll shows that only 41% of Sierra Leoneans believe that the country is heading in the right direction, a decrease of 13 percentage points from 2018. Both declines in public opinion raise concerns about the next election.
Along with electoral concerns raised by IRI’s polling, a survey by Afrobarometer shows that the majority of Sierra Leoneans experience violence during political rallies and events. Despite this, the Government has been submitting new proposals for electoral laws that affect violent areas. One bill suggests that NEC officials would be able to stop counting and could cancel the votes in an area where there is violent disruption on Election Day.
Furthermore, recent events such as rapidly rising inflation, violent protests, and the nationwide curfew, all add to rising concerns about the political landscape in advance of the 2023 elections. These issues must be addressed in order to ensure peaceful electoral processes and a secure future for Sierra Leone. IRI works with representative public opinion surveys and research, its deep understanding of political context, and its history in elections programming will help future work in the country and aid efforts to maintain a peaceful election. IRI is once again ready to support Sierra Leone to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections and to further sustainable, democratic development.
Management of Choithram Hospital, on Hill Station in Freetown in an engagement with members of the Fourth Estate on the 28th March, 2023 at the hospital’s conference room, intimated newsmen that there are German doctors, who are currently offering free consultation and treatment within the hospital adding that they are conducting operations with most of the beneficiaries being children. The doctors are Dr. Brunner Nivocaos, Dr. Gruhl Cute, Dr. Heiolemana Bernd, Dr Weit Olaf.
According to, Harish Agnani, the Head of Choithram Hospital, the team of German doctors came under Interplus, commencing work at the hospital on the 23rd March 2023 and will end on the 4th April, 2023. He continued by disclosing that from time to time the hospital receives foreign doctors that offer specialized medical treatments, on a short time basis, also underscoring that treatment is free of cost meaning that a patient is not required to settle any bill whatsoever.
Harish went on to commend the current Sierra Leonean Ambassador to Germany, Dr Baimba Mbayor, for his instrumental role he is playing to facilitate the movement of German doctors to Sierra Leone to offer specialized medical treatments to people suffering from certain diseases.
He lamented that as a result of the outbreak of the corona virus the coming of these foreign doctors was somehow suspended as it was not safe to travel further expressing satisfaction that in as much as the COVID situation has now down they have began receiving medical practitioners who come to offer free treatments during what are referred to as a medical camps.
He emphasized that treatment is completely free also revealing how Management is doing everything humanely possible to maintain such partnerships which, according to him, has proven to be beneficial for all that are involved.
“The hospital offered the doctors two operating theatres where they are carrying out operations,” he also disclosed and went further to commend two of the hospital female staff for the roles they have been playing in giving support to the medical team.
Dr Gowrinath George, the Medical Superintendent of Choithram Hospital stated that already a sizable number of operations have been conducted disclosing that patients suffering from Post Burn Contracture, Disorder/Deformity of hand, feet or wrist, tumors of hand and feet, Cleft Lip and Palate are the main beneficiaries from the free consultation and treatment. He revealed that everything is going on smoothly maintaining that before the doctors commenced treatment a thorough screening of the patients was done by Dr Wongo.
One of the doctors, Dr Gruhl Cute, who spoke on behalf of the team commended Choithram Hospital as a very good hospital with a friendly staff. He said already they have seen up to 100 patients and they have performed 60 pediatric operations, 22 plastic surgeries and they are expecting to do 40 more before departing on the 4th April, 2023. He also said they will not take all the praise for the work they have done so far as the local staff have been very accommodating and instrumental in rendering assistances when and how necessary.
Dr Gruhl also intimated that the kind of plastic surgery that they conduct is not for beautification purpose but rather it involves the reconstruction of bodily parts to make it normal.
He said besides treating patients they are also transferring knowledge to the medical staff of Choithram Hospital stating further that after-care is important after an operation is conducted adding how the local medical staff are offered the opportunity to learn new things.
Dr Gruhl further intimated that although up to 400 patients were screened, however, they could only treat patients with ailments for which they are specialized to treat.
The other doctors include Brunner Nivocaos, Dr Heidermann Bernd and Weit Olaf.
A question and Answer session climaxed the engagement.
Is Sierra Leone’s Peace Deceptive?
By Amin Kef (Ranger)
Some months ago, anti-government protests in Sierra Leone resulted in over a dozen civilian deaths, an internet shutdown, and a nationwide curfew for all citizens. These protests are not the first instance of violence in Sierra Leone.
In recent years, the country has seen thousands of its people killed and millions displaced as a result of its 1991-2002 civil war, the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, the August 14, 2017, mudslide, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
In March 2018, the country appeared to have found stability after a successful transition of power in its highly anticipated 2018 general elections.
Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) was elected President despite running against a member of the governing party, the All People’s Congress (APC). This shift marked the successful transition of presidential and political party power from the second administration to the third since the end of the civil war in 2002.
Despite the peaceful transition, it has become apparent that the shift in power did not bring the results that many hoped. As the country looks ahead to the 2023 elections, lingering concerns must be addressed to ensure free, transparent, and peaceful political processes long-term.
From 2018-2022, the International Republican Institute (IRI) partnered with other stakeholders in Sierra Leone to produce a program called the Sierra Leone Elections Dialogue Series (SLEDS). This program was implemented as part of efforts to better election processes by increasing the participation of women and other disadvantaged groups in politics, increasing civil advocacy, strengthening media, and building political consensus. During the program, IRI conducted a series of four public opinion polls that informed the project by gauging concerns about political processes (first poll, second poll, third poll, fourth poll). Beyond informing SLEDS activities, IRI’s polls helped to identify concerns that should be addressed in future programming, especially as the country approaches its 2023 elections.
Among these issues are two main shifts in public opinion regarding electoral processes. Since February 2018, trust in the National Electoral Commission (NEC) has fallen by 49 percentage points. In the first poll, 67% of Sierra Leoneans identified that they trust NEC a great deal. By the final poll in January 2022, only 18% identified that they trust the NEC a great deal. In addition to this decline, following the 2018 elections, 54% of people believed that the country was headed in the right direction. However, IRI’s latest poll shows that only 41% of Sierra Leoneans believe that the country is heading in the right direction, a decrease of 13 percentage points from 2018. Both declines in public opinion raise concerns about the next election.
Along with electoral concerns raised by IRI’s polling, a survey by Afrobarometer shows that the majority of Sierra Leoneans experience violence during political rallies and events. Despite this, the Government has been submitting new proposals for electoral laws that affect violent areas. One bill suggests that NEC officials would be able to stop counting and could cancel the votes in an area where there is violent disruption on Election Day.
Furthermore, recent events such as rapidly rising inflation, violent protests, and the nationwide curfew, all add to rising concerns about the political landscape in advance of the 2023 elections. These issues must be addressed in order to ensure peaceful electoral processes and a secure future for Sierra Leone. IRI works with representative public opinion surveys and research, its deep understanding of political context, and its history in elections programming will help future work in the country and aid efforts to maintain a peaceful election. IRI is once again ready to support Sierra Leone to conduct free, fair, and transparent elections and to further sustainable, democratic development.