With a historic handshake and a hug at the Sierra Leonean State House in Freetown, the country’s president, Julius Maada Bio, and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) 2023 Presidential Candidate, Dr. Samura Kamara, marked the renewal of the opposition’s cooperation on the Tripartite Committee and the resumption of critical work, with the final report expected to be presented to the president in the coming days.
It is believed that the Committee’s Report and Recommendations could promote democracy and accountability and will further represent a critical turning point, potentially determining the future stability of the country.
Only a few days ago, this sight would not have been anticipated as the opposition APC had suspended its participation from the committee, set up to address allegations of election malpractices and promote democracy and accountability.
As anxiety gripped Sierra Leoneans ahead of the release of the Tripartite Committee Report, President Bio had stressed the need for national unity in a nationwide broadcast on June 15, just a day after the APC stated that it had withdrawn from the tripartite committee, citing lack of commitment on the part of the government and Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL).
The President called upon every citizen to embrace the values of tolerance, respect, and solidarity, pointing out that they should work together to build a nation where every individual feels valued and included.
He urged the main opposition APC to demonstrate leadership and speak out frankly to their supporters that they must embrace each other and ensure peace and stability in Sierra Leone.
He also received a joint ECOWAS, African Union (AU), and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) Assessment Mission on June 19 as a follow up to the Agreement for National Unity signed between the Government of Sierra Leone and the APC, reaffirming his government’s commitment to the agreement and underscored the importance of dialogue as a critical component of governance and peace consolidation.
With the renewal of the APC’s commitment to work with the government on the final outcome of the committee’s report, there is hope that the final draft would be a significant step in resolving the feud between both parties since the end of the 2023 elections.
According to the Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh, he and Dr. Kamara joined an expanded tripartite committee meeting to review progress a day before the initial 6-month mandate ends, noting that 86 issues had been raised and 169 recommendations had so far been agreed by all sides.
The country’s minister for information, Chernor Bah, in response to APC renewed support for the committee’s work, noted that “the recent joint statement by the Government of Sierra Leone (GOSL) and the All Peoples Congress Party (APC) signifies a crucial advancement towards electoral reform and national unity.”
The APC said that the decision to suspend its participation in the Tripartite Committee was primarily due to the refusal of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP)-led government representatives at the Committee to continue discussions with the APC counterparts on the verification of the results as announced by ECSL.
The party also informed that its decision was because the SLPP-run government refused to release the disaggregated votes by polling station, despite the APC’s willingness to adhere to the Terms of Reference and the signed Agreement on National Unity.
The SLPP continues to insist that the elections were free, fair, and credible, just as the government has denied claims of any discussions on the verification of results as those were not included in the mandate of the Tripartite process, The government, in its response to the claims by the APC, issued a statement clarifying areas where it noted that the APC misinformed the public.
It noted that “the Tripartite Committee’s mandate, derived from Resolution Three (3) of the Agreement for National Unity, signed by both GOSL (Government of Sierra Leone) and APC, is to examine and review the electoral systems, structures and processes of the 2023 and previous electoral cycles to ensure future elections in Sierra Leone are free, fair and credible.”
It went on to describe reports suggesting that it had declared Dr. Kamara as winner of the June 2023 elections, or that it would order a rerun of elections as false, pointing out that that was the “exclusive domain of the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone.”
The Committee’s mandate, according to a Communiqué signed by both the SLPP and APC in October of the previous year, was to investigate the issues raised and complete its probe within six months.
This statement by the government that there was no mandate to call for fresh elections was disappointing for many who had Initially anticipated that the Committee’s findings might support this position.
It had earlier been made known by the government that the Committee would not recommend a re-run but would instead focus on making broader recommendations for electoral reforms.
Critics within the APC had questioned the feasibility of the SLPP-led government implementing new electoral laws and rules, given its alleged violations during the last election.
Some obviously disgruntled members had raised fears of a possible mass protest against the refusal to call for fresh elections. However, the APC has distanced itself from any protests against the final report of the tripartite agreement.
During a media appearance, its senior spokesman, Minkailu Koroma, said “The APC as a Party is not in support of any faceless protest and/or demonstration. We have not sanctioned any protest. If we want to hold any protest, it will be led by our senior leadership after going through the right democratic channels”.
The Recommendations, likely focusing on electoral reforms, will not satisfy all parties equally but there is hope that these recommendations will promote unity and peace, guiding the nation toward a more stable and democratic future, an informed government source said.
