Bio re-elected as Sierra Leone President, avoids run-off

President Julius Maada Bio has been re-elected in Sierra Leone’s tense presidential vote, confirmed by the election commission. Chief Electoral Commissioner Mohamed Kenewui Konneh announced on Tuesday that Bio secured 56.17 percent of the vote on Saturday, thus winning a second term. His primary rival, Samura Kamara of the All People’s Congress (APC), came in second with 41.16 percent.

Konneh, exercising his authority, declared Bio Julius Maada duly elected president. The requirement for victory in the election was to secure 55 percent of the votes, and Bio narrowly surpassed that threshold, avoiding a second round.

Kamara, aged 72, swiftly rejected the results, categorically dismissing them as he expressed his disappointment. He took to Twitter, stating, “It is a sad day for our beloved country. It is a frontal attack on our fledgling democracy.” Kamara firmly asserted that the announced results were not credible and rejected the outcome.

The election commission’s announcement followed claims from supporters of both parties asserting victory in the days following the election. Kamara declared that he was on an “irreversible path to an overwhelming victory.” He also alleged that security forces fired live bullets during a celebration at his party’s headquarters on Sunday, although the police denied this accusation.

Bio previously defeated Kamara, a former foreign minister, in the 2018 election. The APC, dissatisfied with the vote tallying process, condemned the alleged lack of inclusiveness, transparency, and responsibility by the election commission. The party raised concerns about the absence of information regarding the source of ballots from specific polling stations or districts. It refused to accept the declared results, denouncing them as fake and fabricated while reasserting their claim to victory.

European Union observers, in a news conference on Monday, criticized the electoral authority for its lack of transparency and communication, which contributed to mistrust in the electoral process. The monitors reported witnessing violence at several polling stations during voting and counting stages.

There were concerns that the announcement of the results could lead to further unrest if none of the 13 candidates achieved an outright victory. The United States also expressed concerns about the lack of transparency in the counting process.

Chief Electoral Commissioner Konneh explained that citizens who lawfully voted have the option to challenge the results in the Supreme Court within seven days of their declaration.

Bio addressed the nation after the provisional results were released on Monday, calling for peace and urging citizens to maintain a peaceful atmosphere.

The June 24 election marked the fifth since the end of Sierra Leone’s civil war in 2002. It took place amidst high unemployment, inflation, and an escalation in violent rhetoric. Bio, a former coup leader in the 1990s, focused on education and women’s rights during his first civilian term. However, his tenure was marred by increasing frustration over economic hardships.

Last year, rising prices sparked unusually violent protests, and the APC hoped to capitalize on the persisting cost-of-living crisis to secure votes. The World Bank noted that Sierra Leone’s economic downturn has hindered hopes of recovery, with widespread underemployment and over half of the population living in poverty.

Bio has faced mounting criticism due to the challenging economic conditions, while Kamara pledged to address these issues. Nearly 60 percent of Sierra Leone’s population, exceeding seven million people, currently face poverty, and the country experiences one of the highest youth unemployment rates in West Africa.