In a recent interview with VOA’s Night Line Africa, Sierra Leone’s main opposition leader, Samura Kamara of the All People’s Congress (APC), expressed significant concerns regarding the conduct and outcome of the June 24, 2023 elections.
Speaking with presenter Peter Kotay from Washington, D.C., Kamara emphasized issues surrounding transparency and fairness.
“The APC was more concerned about the outcome of the June 24, 2023 elections,” Kamara stated, highlighting a perceived lack of transparency and accountability in the electoral process.
“It was described as being unfair and not transparent. And therefore it lacks credibility,” he continued, calling for the publication of aggregated results from polling stations by the Electoral Commission and the resignation of key officials, whom he deemed lacking in credibility.
Kamara further elaborated on the APC’s concerns, pointing out that the announced results, which the party rejected, did not address what he termed “divergent areas.” He explained, “There was no resolve of how together we manage what happened on June 24, 2023, in respect to the announced results, which I rejected and the APC party also rejected.”
He asserted that their internal data indicated a victory for him, with 57.15% of the votes compared to 39.40% for the incumbent President Maada Bio.
When asked about the APC’s stance on a potential re-run of the elections, Dr. Kamara confirmed that it is a position supported by the party and referenced in the report of the Tripartite Committee.
“It is the APC stance because it is part of the report of the Tripartite Committee,” he said, stressing the party’s commitment to reflecting the will of the people.
Addressing the possibility of dialogue with President Maada Bio to ease political tensions, Dr. Kamara expressed openness to such discussions. “Yes, we have and I think we are just waiting for the appropriate time for this to be done man-to-man, we can sit and then discuss,” he stated.
He emphasized the need for honest acknowledgment of underlying issues and a collective effort to manage the expectations of Sierra Leoneans, particularly in light of widespread dissatisfaction with the government’s performance.
Dr. Samura Kamara’s comments underscore ongoing political tensions in Sierra Leone, as the country navigates post-election uncertainties. The APC’s call for a transparent review of the electoral process reflects broader concerns about the integrity of democratic institutions in the country.
