Freetown, Sierra Leone – In a bid to secure re-election, President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone addressed his final rally on Tuesday at the renowned Lumley Beach in the capital city. The event marked the culmination of an intense campaign season as the nation prepares to head to the polls on June 24.
Aside from the presidential race, voters will also cast their ballots for Members of Parliament and local councils. With thirteen candidates vying for the top office, Julius Maada Bio, the nominee of the Sierra Leone People’s Party, emphasized the importance of peaceful elections and called for an end to violence.
Addressing his supporters from a stage at Lumley Beach, President Bio urged everyone to exercise their democratic rights responsibly, saying, “I want to appeal to everybody, we want peaceful elections. No violence. You have your card, on that day go and vote.”
To prevent potential violence, traditional parade-like political street rallies were banned this year. Last August’s deadly riots and the absence of a healing process raised concerns among some observers. Macksood Gibril Sesay, a former electoral commissioner, warned of the potential for chaos during elections, stating, “Everybody knows that elections are a period where they just need something to spark off and then there will be chaos everywhere.”
Both major political parties released their manifestos just a month before the elections, leading to criticism from the opposition. The Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) faced allegations of bias in favor of the ruling party, fueling speculation that a court challenge may follow the election, a tactic employed by both parties in the past. Disinformation has also been prevalent on both sides, with the online space exerting a greater influence on voters than ever before.
Sierra Leone’s Information Minister, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, revealed that internet penetration has surged to nearly 3 million people, a significant increase from the 370,000 reported in 2018.
The election primarily revolves around two main rivals. President Bio, 59, who leads the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), has championed education and women’s rights during his first term. He expressed his commitment to prioritising agriculture and reducing food imports in an interview with AFP.
His opponent, Samura Kamara, 72, a former finance and foreign minister who lost to Bio in the 2018 runoff, pledged to restore confidence in the country’s economic institutions and attract foreign direct investment. Kamara is currently facing trial on charges of embezzling public funds during his tenure as foreign minister, a case his supporters believe is politically motivated.
Despite the nation’s dire financial situation, experts believe that Bio is unlikely to face significant repercussions at the polls. Supporters dressed in the ruling party’s colours expressed optimism at the Lumley Beach rally, voicing their expectations for improved electricity and water supply. They commended Bio’s leadership and the opportunities they have witnessed under his administration.
In Sierra Leone, where regional allegiances hold considerable weight, most voters align themselves with longstanding affiliations, anticipating that regions governed by their preferred politicians will receive job opportunities and benefits.
According to a June 14 poll conducted by IGR, a partner of the pan-African pollster Afrobarometer, Bio is projected to secure 56 percent of the vote, while Kamara is expected to receive 43 percent.
Another key aspect of the elections is the parliamentary race. The poll forecasts that SLPP will claim between 56 and 61 percent of the seats, with the rest going to the All People’s Congress (APC).
Critics of President Bio argue that the civic space has contracted during his tenure. Sierra Leone’s rating on the annual index of the US-based democracy advocacy group Freedom House dropped from
