Freetown, October 13, 2023 – The long-awaited mediation dialogue between the Sierra Leone Government and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party officially began today in Freetown.
The discussions, facilitated by the Commonwealth, the African Union (AU), and the Economic Community for West African States (ECOWAS), aim to address the modalities for ending the political crisis that emerged following the recent elections.
The mediation team arrived in Freetown a week ago and held separate consultations with both the Government of Sierra Leone and the APC party on Friday, October 13th, and Saturday, October 14th, 2023. Sunday, October 15th, was designated as a resting day in the schedule.
The main Mediation Dialogue is scheduled to be held from Monday, October 16th, to Wednesday, October 18th, 2023, with sessions starting daily at 9.00 am. The Bintumani Hotel’s Ballroom in Aberdeen, Freetown, will serve as the venue for this critical dialogue. Participants have been urged to arrive by 8.45 am daily to ensure punctuality. An Opening Ceremony is set for Monday, October 16th, 2023, at 9.00 am.
This dialogue follows a recent meeting between the leadership of Sierra Leone’s main opposition APC party and representatives from the Commonwealth Secretariat and ECOWAS in Freetown last month. In a press statement statement, the APC confirmed that its leadership had indeed initiated direct talks with the SLPP government.
The crisis emerged following the announcement of the June 24 election results by the National Electoral Commission, which showed President Bio securing a marginal victory over the APC presidential candidate, Dr. Samura Kamara.
Elected APC MPs and councillors have boycotted engagement with the ruling SLPP, alleging electoral irregularities in favor of President Bio’s SLPP. Election observers and the international community have expressed concerns about the transparency and credibility of the election results.
The country’s National Election Watch (NEW) highlighted that no single party had won the presidential election, which should have triggered a runoff between President Bio and Dr. Samura Kamara. The APC’s demands also include the publication of polling station disaggregated results by the electoral commission.
As the talks between the APC and the government get underway, Sierra Leone hopes to overcome the impasse that has been crippling the country both economically and politically.
