Omar Touray, the President of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has commended Sierra Leone’s peaceful elections held in June this year.
He made this statement while delivering a significant address today at the ECOWAS Summit in Abuja, Nigeria.
Touray emphasized the transformative impact of peaceful elections, stating, “The peaceful elections that ECOWAS has supported in Nigeria, Guinea Bissau, Sierra Leone, and Liberia have shattered the narrative that political change in Africa is possible only through a military coup.”
He also addressed humanitarian concerns, acknowledging the dire situation in Niger Republic.
He noted, “In line with the provisions of our community texts, we granted humanitarian access to medical and humanitarian goods for the sake of the people.” However, he expressed concern about reports from humanitarian agencies indicating interference by military authorities in Niger with humanitarian access.
Highlighting the region’s economic prospects, Touray spoke of the challenges and opportunities. “We are challenged to improve the business environment in our community to take advantage of the growing interests of investors,” he said.
The ECOWAS President emphasized the commitment to regional development, making “the development of regional infrastructure and business-friendly policies a cornerstone of the integration of the region.”
Sierra Leone President Julius Maada Bio secured victory in the West African country’s presidential election with more than 56% of the votes to avoid a run-off against main rival Samura Kamara, according to the chief electoral commissioner, Mohamed Konneh.
Kamara, 72, who suffered a narrow defeat in the 2018 election, received about 41% of the votes this time. “These results are not credible and I categorically reject the outcome so announced by the electoral commission,” Kamara said on Twitter after the announcement of final results.
International observers and the United States also voiced concern about a lack of transparency in the counting process.
Meanwhile, on 19 October 2023, both the main opposition APC party – led by Dr Samura Kamara, and the government of Sierra Leone – represented at the mediation talks by the government’s chief minister David Sengeh, signed an historical agreement to end the post–election conflict that has been threatening to cripple the country, since the declaration of President Bio as winner of the Presidential election in July.
