West African Elders Forum Delegation Visits Peace Commission, Praises Sierra Leone's Commitment to Democracy

Strategic Insights -

The West African Elders Forum (WAEF) delegation, led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, visited the Peace Commission at the Bintumani Conference Center in Freetown on June 22, 2023. The delegation aimed to monitor the June 24th multi-tier elections and identify the role they could play in consolidating peace before, during, and after the elections. The delegation met with the National Mediation Team, comprising the Chairman and Board Members of the Peace Commission, Civil Society Organizations, the Human Rights Commission, the Police, and the Legal Aid Board.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Peace Commission has undertaken numerous activities since its formation, focusing on enhancing and consolidating peace and national cohesion.
  • The Commission has facilitated a dialogue between the All People's Congress (APC) and the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), resolving over 70% of contentious issues.
  • President Goodluck Jonathan praised President Bio for creating the Peace Commission, an important infrastructure that should be emulated across Africa.
  • The WAEF was set up to assist ECOWAS leadership in mediating conflict situations in the sub-region, enabling Presidents to intervene in conflicts.
  • The Peace Commission has been collaborating with other stakeholders, including the Inter-Religious Council, Paramount Chiefs, and Traditional Leaders, to address emerging issues.
  • The Commission plans to conduct fragility studies in all 190 chiefdoms to deepen its knowledge of the root causes of issues and address them ahead of the next elections in five years.
  • A team of mediators from FemWise, a network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation, has arrived to support the Peace Situation Room.
  • The African Union Elections Observation Mission to Sierra Leone has made a visit to the Peace Situation, with the former Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, praising the Commission for its efforts to ensure peaceful elections.

Statistics:

  • 70% of contentious issues were resolved in the dialogue between the APC and ECSL.
  • 190 chiefdoms are to undergo fragility studies by the Peace Commission.
  • 1 team of mediators from FemWise has arrived to support the Peace Situation Room.
  • 1 delegation from the African Union Elections Observation Mission to Sierra Leone has made a visit to the Peace Commission.
  • 5 years ahead of the next elections, the Peace Commission plans to have deepened its knowledge of the root causes of issues in all 190 chiefdoms.

Sources:

  • A delegation from the West African Elders Forum led by former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan.
  • H.E Kadre Ouadrego, Former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso and former President of ECOWAS.
  • Rev Shodankeh Johnson, Chairman of the Peace Commission.
  • President Goodluck Jonathan, Chairperson of the West African Elders Forum.
  • H.E Kadre Ouadrego, Former Prime Minister of Burkina Faso and former President of ECOWAS.
  • Executive Secretary Hawa Samai, Peace Commission.
  • H.E Prof Yemi Osinbanjo, former Nigerian Vice President, Commonwealth Observation Mission.
  • Former Ethiopian Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, African Union Elections Observation Mission.