Sierra Leone Prepares for Crucial Presidential Elections

Strategic Insights -

Sierra Leoneans will head to the polls on June 24 to elect a new President and Members of Parliament, marking the country's fifth consecutive presidential elections since the end of the brutal 11-year civil war. The election is expected to be competitive, with incumbent President Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) seeking a second five-year term against his major contender, Samura Kamara of the All-People's Congress (APC). Ethnicity and region are historically major deciding factors in the election, with the southern and eastern regions considered strongholds of the SLPP and the northern and western regions coming across as pro-APC. Key issues on the minds of voters include the high cost of living, high taxes on businesses, rising inflation, electricity challenges, high cost of fuel, youth unemployment, education, peace, and security, and infrastructure.

Key Takeaways:

  • The election will be held on June 24, with 13 candidates and political parties contesting, including the ruling Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) and the main opposition, All-People's Congress (APC).
  • The southern and eastern regions are considered strongholds of the SLPP, while the northern and western regions come across as pro-APC.
  • Key issues on the minds of voters include the high cost of living, high taxes on businesses, rising inflation, electricity challenges, high cost of fuel, youth unemployment, education, peace, and security, and infrastructure.
  • The Sierra Leone Electoral Commission (ECSL) has assured that the polls will be held as scheduled, with a high voter turnout expected, and women's participation tipped to increase due to the implementation of the 2022 Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE) Act.
  • The media in Sierra Leone is diverse and pluralistic, with significant progress made in media freedom over the past few years, including the repeal of the 55-year-old Criminal Libel and Seditious law.
  • Several pro-media development and democracy organizations have partnered with local-based media associations to support the Sierra Leonean media to play a critical role in ensuring peaceful elections.
  • The elections come at a critical time for West Africa, with the region experiencing a democratic rollback of gains made in recent years, including a shrinking civic space, military coups, and attempts to elongate presidential term limits.
  • The Sierra Leone 2023 polls is a litmus test for West Africa's democratic resilience, providing the opportunity to entrench the country's democratic progress and by extension, regional democracy.

Statistics:

  • The number of registered voters in Sierra Leone is approximately 3.4 million out of a population of 8.4 million people.
  • The inflation rate in Sierra Leone has risen to about 43% as of April 2023.
  • The country has seen an increase of almost 200,000 registered voters from the 2018 elections.
  • The 2022 Gender Equality and Women's Empowerment (GEWE) Act requires that 30% of candidates put forward by any political party for parliamentary and local elections are women.
  • The country has over 200 radio stations, 20 television networks, and 240 newspapers, but viability, professionalism, and conditions of service remain key challenges.
  • The Sierra Leone of Association Journalists (SLAJ) has launched the 'Media We Want' Manifesto as a comprehensive roadmap towards advancing media freedom, professionalism, and journalists' safety.

Sources:

  • Odei, A. L. (2023). The Media and the 2023 Elections: A Litmus Test for West Africa's Democratic Resilience. Media Foundation for West Africa.
  • Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) (2023). Notice of Election.
  • Sierra Leone Association of Journalists (SLAJ) (2023). Media We Want Manifesto.
  • Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) (2023). Statement on the 2023 Sierra Leonean Elections.