In a strongly worded statement today, the Vice President of Sierra Leone expressed his dissatisfaction with the European Union Election Observation Mission’s Final Report on the 2023 Sierra Leone General Elections.
He criticized the report for what he perceived as a political bias, highlighting its lack of technical analysis and an overabundance of normative assertions.
The Vice President emphasized the need for a technically sound report that could help identify institutional, legal, and operational shortcomings to enhance future elections. He questioned the report’s value, particularly citing statements like “divisive online communication created insecurity for rural voters” and the political nature of four out of seven priority recommendations.
Drawing from his extensive experience in organizing elections in Africa and Europe, the Vice President called for higher-quality reports from the EU Election Observation Mission, rooted in a robust technical and analytical understanding of electoral processes.
While expressing gratitude for the mission’s efforts, he also expressed a desire to continue collaborating with the European Union to strengthen Sierra Leone’s electoral system.
