28/06/2023
Julius Maada Bio, Reelected President of Sierra Leone
Wednesday, Julius Maada Bio was declared the winner of Sierra Leone's presidential election, but the opposition disputed the results.
Official figures gave Bio 56% of the vote, while his main rival, Samura Kamara, received 41%. Kamara called the outcome "daylight robbery" and has vowed to challenge the results in court.
International election observers raised concerns about the transparency of the tallying process. They pointed to problems with counting votes and the lack of access to party agents at polling stations.
The election took place on Saturday amid a tense atmosphere. There were reports of violence in some areas, but the overall process was peaceful.
Bio, a former soldier, will be sworn in for his second and final five-year term soon. He first came to power 2018, defeating Kamara in a closely fought runoff election. His supporters stormed the streets of Freetown to celebrate his victory.
The rivalry between Bio and Kamara is reminiscent of the 2018 election. In that election, Bio won by a narrow margin, securing 51.8% of the vote to Kamara's 48.2%.
The outcome of the 2023 election is still uncertain. Kamara has vowed to challenge the results in court, and it is unclear whether the Supreme Court will uphold Bio's victory.
In the meantime, Sierra Leone remains a divided country. There are concerns that the disputed election results could lead to further violence. However, Bio has called on his supporters to "keep the peace" and to allow the legal process to take its course.