In a significant development, a high-level delegation led by Dr. Michelle Scobie, Head of the Commonwealth Good Offices Section within the Governance and Peace Directorate, made a courtesy visit to former President Ernest Bai Koroma in Makeni, Sierra Leone, on Friday, September 8, 2023.
This visit comes in the context of the ongoing electoral dispute in Sierra Leone, as the international community intensifies efforts to mediate the impasse arising from the June 24 election.
The main opposition party, All People’s Congress (APC), led by Dr. Samura Kamara, has vehemently rejected the election results announced by Mr. Mohamed Konneh, Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL).
The credibility of the results has been widely questioned by international elections observers and the National Elections Watch, who cited discrepancies with their own tally system and expressed concerns about the transparency of the tabulation process.
As a result, the APC has refused to participate in the governance of Sierra Leone under the leadership of President Julius Maada Bio. This has led to APC Members of Parliament and Councillors boycotting their seats in both Parliament and local councils.
The involvement of the international community in mediating this electoral dispute stems from the APC’s lack of trust in key national institutions.
The Commonwealth-led delegation’s closed-door meeting with former President Koroma was facilitated by the ‘Independent Commission for Peace and National Cohesion’ (ICPNC). The ICPNC is set to act as co-arbiters alongside international arbitrators in a constructive dialogue between the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) and the APC.
Former President Koroma welcomed the Commonwealth-led delegation warmly and expressed hope that the mediation efforts would serve the best interests of the people of Sierra Leone.
The outcome of this critical meeting will be closely watched as the nation seeks a resolution to its electoral challenges.
