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.
The Independent Media Commission (IMC), in collaboration with the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and with funding from the European Union, has launched the IMC Elections Coverage and Reporting Regulations as well as the Print and Electronic Media Regulations on the 27th March, 2023 at the Radisson Blu Conference Centre on Aberdeen in Freetown.
In attendance were media practitioners from various print and electronic media houses in Freetown, representatives from International IDEA and officials of the IMC.
Welcoming participants during the programme was Commissioner Salifu Suma, of the Independent Media Commissioner who informed all present that that there is the need to upgrade the existing regulations binding election reporting which he said are now obsolete adding that with funding from the BBC Media consultations were held countrywide with all relevant stakeholders which finally culminated in the drafting and finalization of the two documents which the Commission will embark on popularizing countrywide.
Chairman of the Independent Media Commission, Dr. Victor Massaquoi, informed participants that the regulations which are to be launched emanated from extensive collaboration with other stakeholders in the media landscape going further to reveal that after the launch then the popularization of the Regulations will be done countrywide.
A representative from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA), Tawanda Chimhini, stated that theirs is an inter-governmental entity that signed a memorandum of understanding with the Independent Media Commission geared towards enhancing the capacity of the media in terms of highlighting the roles journalists must play and the challenges they would grapple with in elections coverage and reporting.
He furthered that it has been noticed that there is a lack of clarity with regards the roles the media should play in elections coverage and reporting. According to him, the media is sometimes politically insensitive maintaining that most times the Government and other relevant stakeholders fail to provide timely assistance to the media maintaining that it is necessary for awareness to be raised on how media practitioners should report election related issues.
Tawanda disclosed how his organization had replicated such partnerships with media regulatory institutions in other countries in Africa all geared towards responsible reportage in election periods further maintaining that it will not only help to put media practitioners on their toes but at vantage positions to give accurate elections reportage before, during and after elections.
Representatives of NEW, IRN, ECSL and the Guild of Editors also made similar calls for institutional independence, fair, transparent and responsible reporting in their statements.
Delivering the keynote address was the Minister of Information and Communications, Mohamed Rahman Swaray. The Minister underscored how President Julius Maada Bio is very passionate about freeing up the media space citing the repeal of Part V of the Criminal Libel Law, how Government has increased the subvention given to SLAJ adding that Sierra Leone is the 5th member of the Media Coalition maintaining that the greatest challenge to the media is poverty and how to address that.
He espoused that, the Government of President Dr. Julius Maada Bio is committed to expanding the media space but cautioned that this should not be used as an excuse to promote reckless journalism.
“The media is not a platform to promote tribal and divisive messages, IMC and SLAJ must ensure a conducive media environment that promotes cohesion and factual dissemination of information to the public,” the Minister said and went on to launch the two documents.
Various presentations were made by different facilitators on the dos and don’ts as well as how media practitioners should go about election reporting which was then followed by a question and answer session.
In an exclusive interview with one of Sierra Leone’s erudite and result-oriented Economists, Prince Jacob Macauley, he expressed admiration and commended the role of the Ambassador of the United States of America, the High Commissioner of Britain and the European Union, for their unflinching support to the country’s democratic processes.
He noted the various interventions, by way of funding, as well as the technical supports given to the Government and people of Sierra Leone for the advancement of democracy in the country.
Macauley noted that as giants of democracy, the envoys of the aforementioned countries have endeavored to contribute positively to the development of democracy in the country, and he dismissed as lame, accusations levied against them by some politicians, in a bid to taint the hard earned reputation of these international partners, who have been very instrumental in getting their respective Governments to support the country, both financially and technically.
Economist Macauley furthered that as international partners and moral guarantors of the country’s peace and stability, it behooves them to admonish the Government on any matter that has the potential to derail the peace and stability of the country, and if in doing so they come under attack, it is because those who attacked them have deliberately refused to see the role of these international partners in enhancing the country’s peace and democracy.
As moral guarantors, and mindful of the negative effect of the country’s 11 years’ war, especially with regards to the killing, maiming and ravaging of the country’s resources by the warring parties, at the detriment of the people, our international partners, whose resources from their taxpayers have been and are still being poured into the country, have the moral standing to ensure that the hard earned peace remains unhindered.
Prince Jacob Macauley noted that the aforementioned Governments have dished out huge sums of money to help build institutions like the Statistics Sierra Leone, the Judiciary, the ECSL, the PPRC, as well as MDAs.
Their intervention in the Education sector has seen an improvement of various planned projects. For instance, the EU held discussions with the Education Ministry recently to discuss how the grant of 35 million Euro can be utilized to benefit the nation (22nd March, 2023).
The EU is a major funding partner of the ECSL, Judiciary etc. UK and the USA have all been funding the Government through their various agencies; like the UKAID, USAID, FCDO (Foreign Commonwealth Development Office), etc. These Governments have been funding various areas of development; example: governance, Education, Judiciary, national development activities, legal reforms, political participation of vulnerable groups in the country, health and sanitation, climate change etc.
Amidst all these interventions, Macauley is grateful that our international partners and moral guarantors are actively supporting the development of the country and democracy. Today, several reforms have taken place, including legal matters and the enhancement of freedom of speech, association, political participation, female empowerment etc. These, Macauley maintained, are the bedrock of any developing country and the maintenance of peace and stability in the country. He also noted that despite the negative stance that a few politicians have embraced to put these envoys in bad light, their commitments have not waned, and are still doing all they can to ensure that democratic principles are maintained, and the country becomes a shining example of democracy in the region and in Africa.
Concluding the interview, Prince Jacob Macauley admonished the USA, UK and EU to continue their work and make Sierra Leone the bastion of democracy in the region, as it is only in a democratic dispensation, where respect for the rule of law and other democratic principles are maintained that economic stability, good governance can prevail.
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.