Tension is steadily building in Sierra Leone in the run up to the anniversary of last year’s controversial election whose outcome is still being hotly disputed by the opposition All People’s Congress (APC).
Streets in Sierra Leone’s main cities appear to be empty in anticipation of trouble.
In recent days, APC supporters have been baying for ‘blood and sweat’ ahead of the release of a final report into opposition claims that the June 24th 2023 election which saw the re-election of President Julius Maada Bio was ‘seriously flawed’.
The Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) government fears that wildcat demonstrations by supporters of APC opposition leader Samura Kamara are likely in the coming days irrespective of the outcome of the report.
A tripartite committee on electoral systems review which was set up to investigate alleged irregularities, and malpractice will release its report in the coming days, adding to the tension in Sierra Leone which has witnessed political topsy-turvies in recent years.
In anticipation of public disturbances, the government has instructed the security forces to be on a heightened state of alert in the lead up to June 24th.
The Sierra Leonean police and a section of the army have intensified patrols in the capital Freetown, where residents have been urged to go about their daily lives peaceably.
2022 saw some of the worst protests in Sierra Leone since the end of the mineral-rich country’s devastating 11-year civil war twenty years earlier.
Scores had died during a police crackdown on the demonstrations which were fueled by a failing economy, rising cost of living, unemployment.
The country’s divisive politics has also witnessed several attempted coups against Mr. Bio whose government accused his predecessor Ernest Bai Koroma of playing a role in orchestrating one last November.
Koroma who had denied the allegations after he was interrogated has been living in exile in Nigeria since January.
There are fears that political rallies which are being called by the opposition will culminate in skirmishes with anti-riot police.
According to security sources, a temporary curfew could be imposed if the situation aggravates into running battles with protesters.
WN/as/APA