SIERRA LEONE:POLITICS
published in TSI
Blood democracy!
Ethnically divided Sierra Leone prepares for Presidential polls
Democracy is the last hope for Sierra Leone, a nation afflicted by the ‘blood diamond’ syndrome, say a majority of the country's citizens and the international community. What the country has had so far was only a semblance of democracy; it is not enough. Only free and fair elections can bring lasting peace to this nation divided on ethnic lines. That is what the 2.6 million voters of Sierra Leone will be hoping for when they cast their ballot on September 8 to elect a new President of their choice. In the first round of elections, concluded on August 19, seven candidates were in the fray for the Presidential post. The elections were held to choose a successor to the incumbent, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who is relinquishing the post after serving two consecutive terms.FACTFILESo far there has been only a semblance of democracy in Sierra Leone The current President is resigning after serving two consecutive termsThough the August polls failed to throw up conclusive results, the two leading candidates were identfied: Ernest Bai Koroma of the opposition All People’s Congress, who garnered 44% of the votes, and Solomon Berewa of People’s Party, the current Vice President, was the runner-up with 38% votes. “Despite escalating violence, the country is diligently moving on the path of electoral democracy and parties are getting around to resolving differences peacefully”, Chris Charlie, Assistant Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police, who heads the media relations department, told TSI. Sierra Leone adopted democracy in 2001 after putting a stop to civil war that claimed more than 50,000 lives. Nevertheless, government sustainability and stability will continue to depend on how honest are the intentions of the external and internal political masters of this African country.
Atul Bharadwaj
Democracy is the last hope for Sierra Leone, a nation afflicted by the ‘blood diamond’ syndrome, say a majority of the country's citizens and the international community. What the country has had so far was only a semblance of democracy; it is not enough. Only free and fair elections can bring lasting peace to this nation divided on ethnic lines. That is what the 2.6 million voters of Sierra Leone will be hoping for when they cast their ballot on September 8 to elect a new President of their choice. In the first round of elections, concluded on August 19, seven candidates were in the fray for the Presidential post. The elections were held to choose a successor to the incumbent, President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, who is relinquishing the post after serving two consecutive terms.FACTFILESo far there has been only a semblance of democracy in Sierra Leone The current President is resigning after serving two consecutive termsThough the August polls failed to throw up conclusive results, the two leading candidates were identfied: Ernest Bai Koroma of the opposition All People’s Congress, who garnered 44% of the votes, and Solomon Berewa of People’s Party, the current Vice President, was the runner-up with 38% votes. “Despite escalating violence, the country is diligently moving on the path of electoral democracy and parties are getting around to resolving differences peacefully”, Chris Charlie, Assistant Inspector General of Sierra Leone Police, who heads the media relations department, told TSI. Sierra Leone adopted democracy in 2001 after putting a stop to civil war that claimed more than 50,000 lives. Nevertheless, government sustainability and stability will continue to depend on how honest are the intentions of the external and internal political masters of this African country.
Atul Bharadwaj
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