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Tag: Sierra Leone

  • Sierra Leone swears in Maada Bio as president

    Sierra Leone swears in Maada Bio as president

    Sierra Leone’s newly elected leader, Julius Maada Bio, was sworn-in as president, late on Wednesday, just hours after the elections commission announced his victory in a tight run-off poll.

    Maada Bio, the opposition candidate and former military junta leader, succeeded Ernest Bai Koroma who had been in office since September 2007.

    According to the 1991 constitution of the country, immediately after the National Electoral Commission (NEC) announces the winner of the election, the president-elect should take the oath of office.

    Maada Bio now faces the difficult task of rebuilding the impoverished West African nation’s economy that was dragged down by the world’s deadliest Ebola epidemic and a global slump in commodity prices.

    Representing the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), Maada Bio won 51.81 percent of votes cast in the March 31 poll, according to results announced by the National Electoral Commission (NEC), on Wednesday.

    He defeated former foreign affairs minister and ruling All People’s Congress (APC) candidate Samura Kamara, who had held a slight lead based on partial results earlier in the day but in the end garnered 48.19 percent.

    Dressed in traditional white robes, Maada Bio was sworn in just before midnight at a hotel in the capital Freetown, raising in the air the Bible upon which he swore the oath of office to the cheers of supporters.

    “This is the dawn of a new era. The people of this great nation have voted to take a new direction,” he said in a speech following the short ceremony in which he made an appeal for national unity.

    “We have only one country, Sierra Leone, and we are all one people.”

    Maada Bio, who briefly ruled Sierra Leone as head of a military junta in 1996, replaces outgoing President Ernest Bai Koroma, who could not seek re-election due to term limits.

    The largely peaceful election process has come as a relief for the country of 7 million people, who in the 1990s endured a brutal civil war fuelled by the diamond trade and notorious for its drug-addled child soldiers and punitive amputations.

    SLPP supporters packed into the NEC headquarters on Wednesday, and following the announcement of the election results party officials urged the Maada Bio’s backers to remain calm.

    “Celebrate responsibly. Do not disturb your neighbour. Victory for all men, not victory for some. Everyone in, no one out,” the party’s campaign manager Ali Kabba said.

    Opposition supporters, confident of victory, sang and danced in the streets of Freetown on Wednesday evening hours before Maada Bio was officially declared the winner.

    “I feel happy about the results. I am here because my president Julius Maada Bio has won the election in this country,” said Adolfus Kargbo, among a group of SLPP supporters chanting Maada Bio’s name.

     

  • APC candidate loses in Sierra Leone’s presidential poll

    APC candidate loses in Sierra Leone’s presidential poll

    The candidate of the opposition Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) has been declared the winner of the March 31 Sierra Leone Presidential run-off election.

    According to the result announced by the Sierra Leone’s National Electoral Commission (NEC) on Wednesday in Freetown, Julius Madaa Bio received 1,319,406 votes representing 51.81 per cent of the total valid votes cast, 2,546,577, to defeat the candidate of the ruling party.

    According to the result, Kamara Wilson of the ruling All Peoples Congress (APC) polled 1,227,171 votes, representing 48.19 per cent of the valid votes cast.

    The Chairman of NEC, Mohamed Conteh, who announced the result, said that the national turnout in the election was 2,578,271 representing 81.11 registered voters, while 31,694 invalid votes were recorded.

    “Therefore, in exercise of the powers conferred on me as National Returning Officer by sections 52(2) and 94(4) of the Public Elections Act, 2012 (Act No 4 of 20l2), I hereby certify that Bio Julius Manda having polled 1,319,406 of the valid votes cast in the March 31 Presidential election run-off has been duly elected President of the Republic of Sierra Leone.

    “Any citizen of Sierra Leone who has lawfully voted in this election may challenge the validity of the said election of the President by petition to the Supreme Court of Sierra Leone, within seven days after the declaration of Presidential result pursuant to section 55(1) of the Public Elections Act, 2012 (Act No. 4 of 2012),” Mr. Conteh said.

    Bio, a retired brigadier, is to take office as Sierra Leone’s 5th President having won the run-off election with more than 92,000 vote margin against his APC counterpart.

    Bio replaced President Ernest Bai Koroma of APC, who has completed his two terms of five years each.

    Under Sierra Leone’s constitution, a winning candidate is sworn in once the Chief Electoral Officer certifies the results of the election, followed by official inauguration later.

    Fourteen political parties participated in the first ballot which was conducted on March 7, where no candidate secured the mandatory 55 per cent of the total valid votes.

    The opposition candidate, Mr. Bio, led the final result of the first ballot with 1,097, 482 votes, making 43.3 per cent of the 2, 537,122 valid votes cast in the polls.

    Samura Kamara of APC at the first ballot came a close second with 1,082, 748 votes, representing 42.7 per cent of the total votes cast.

    The run-off election became necessary since none of the candidates was able to get 51 per cent of the total votes cast, as provided by the country’s constitution.

  • Supreme Court postpones Sierra Leone’s presidential run-off

    In a last-minute decision, Sierra Leone’s Supreme Court on Monday postponed a hotly contested presidential election run-off by four days.

    The run-off vote is now scheduled for March 31 instead of March 27, the court ruled after receiving a request for a postponement from the National Electoral Commission (NEC).

    The NEC requested the delay after a high court lifted an interim injunction placed on the vote on Monday afternoon, only leaving a few hours for the commission to prepare for the run-off.

    The high court had temporarily paused the vote due to fraud claims by a member of the ruling All People’s Congress (APC).

    The run-off will see opposition candidate Julius Bio face off against ruling party candidate Samura Kamara, after no candidate reached 55 per cent of the votes needed to win in the first round on March 7.

     

  • Ex-President Jonathan arrives Sierra Leone for presidential run-off poll

    Ex-President Jonathan arrives Sierra Leone for presidential run-off poll

    Former President Goodluck Jonathan has returned to Sierra Leone to observe the country’s presidential run-off polls scheduled for Tuesday March 27.

    A statement issued by Mr Ikechukwu Eze, the spokesman to the former president, noted that Jonathan, who is leading the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa (EISA) Election Observation Mission, arrived Freetown on Friday.

    Jonathan also led EISA to the first round of the elections on March 7, in which none of the candidates polled required 55 per cent of votes to win at the first ballot.

    EISA had declared the process of the March 7 general elections as peaceful and credible.

    The mission in its interim report presented to the media on March 9 added that the elections were “conducted substantially in line with sub-regional, continental and international standards.”

    It also observed that voter turnout was impressive while the conduct of electoral personnel was professional.

    Jonathan, who presented the report also appealed to the people of Sierra Leone and all stakeholders to remain calm until the final electoral processes were concluded.

  • Voters turn out in their numbers in Sierra Leone elections

    Voters in Sierra Leone turned out in their numbers on Wednesday to elect a new president as incumbent Ernest Koroma bows out.

    A total of 16 candidates – including two women – are vying for the presidency.

    A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent covering the election, reports that there were long queues of registered voters at various poling units visited as early as 5 a.m local time, waiting to cast their vote at the official opening of polls by 7 a.m local time.

    Some of the voters who spoke to NAN said they left their houses early to enable them cast their vote as early as possible and leave.

    The Sierra Leone National Electoral Commission (NEC) officers and election materials could be seen at various poling units visited in the City centre.

    At the cathedral Central District voting station, the NEC official had already set up.

    Also at the Open Field Grass Field Polling Station and the First Baptist Mission Primary School, Accessories Read, Easter Region, the NEC officials could be seen on ground wile voters were already on queue.

    The NEC Poll Manager at Open Field Grass, Mr Abdul Tholley, who spoke with NAN said their was no problem regarding the election materials both sensitive and non sensitive received.

    Also at Annie Wash Primary School, East region, the voters were already waiting in queue as early as 5 .30 a.m local time.

    There was enforcement of vehicular movement restriction as police officers were on strategic road junctions to enforce the restriction order.

    There was also presence of police officers at all the polling units visited.

    Voting is expected to commence by 7 a.m. close by 5 p.m.

    The country has an estimated seven million population and 3.17 million registered voters, who will cast their ballots in 11,122 polling stations nationwide.

    Sierra Leone elections are being contested by 16 presidential candidates, including two women, and more than 700 contenders for the 144-seat unicameral parliament.

    One hundred and thirty-two of the lawmakers will be elected directly, complemented by 12 slots for Paramount Chief Members of Parliament.

     

  • See how fans trooped out for Davido’s show in Sierra Leone

    Nigerian pop star, Davido resumed his 30 Billion African Tour in Sierra Leone on Saturday as he performed for fans in a filled up 50,000-capacity stadium in Freetown, Sierra Leone.

     

    The hit maker took time off following the death of three of his friends within a week.

    Recall that he was supposed to perform at Felabration 2017 in Afrika Shrine, Lagos but had to call off the performance.

     

    The talented singer resumed tour with a concert held in Freetown and was shown huge love with people parading out to enjoy his electrifying performances

     

    The self-proclaimed OBO shared the photos and videos on his Instagram page. He said:”Daddy see wetin your last born cause for Sierra Leone ?? ooohh!! OBO aka FILL UP ANYWHERE!! ❤️❤️❤️

     

    READ ALSO: Davido in new baby mama romance

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BahcgJXFEdS/?taken-by=davidoofficial

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BalzFnolUQq/?taken-by=davidoofficial

     

     

    https://www.instagram.com/p/BajdNwxlcvC/?taken-by=davidoofficial

  • U.S. announces $4.4m support for Sierra Leone election

    The United States Ambassador to Sierra Leone, John Hoover, has announced a financial support of 4.4 million dollars for 2018 elections in the African country, a local media report said on Thursday.

    Hoover, who would soon complete his term in Sierra Leone, made the announcement during a news conference in Freetown on Wednesday.

    He said “we are providing 4.4 million dollars indirect support for Sierra Leone’s 2018 elections.”

    The U.S. embassy said most of the support would be in the form of supporting voter sensitisation, public order management and other activities.

    Hoover’s successor, Maria Hill Briwa, explained that the support was part of U.S. commitment to democracy in the region.

    “This is part of our support for growing democracies in Africa,” Amb. Briwa said.

    The support came as a huge boost to the government of Sierra Leone, considering the shortage of fund for the National Electoral Commission.

     

  • Mudslide disaster: Buhari orders donation of $2m cash, relief materials to Sierra Leone

    The President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government has donated cash, food, medical supplies and other relief materials worth $2 million to victims of the mudslide in Sierra Leone.

    A statement issued by the Special Assistant to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sarah Sanda, said the items donated include $1 million cash, as well as 315 metric tonnes of assorted food and other relief items and over 4,000 medical supplies all amounting to another $1m.

    A high-level delegation led by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Geoffrey Onyeama, made the donation on Wednesday in Freetown on behalf of the President Muhammadu Buhari led Federal Government.

    The delegation, which comprises the Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mustapha Maihaja and Hajiya Zainab Sharif from the Federal Ministry of Health, among others, was received at the State House by President Ernest Bai Koroma.

    Onyeama expressed sadness “on behalf of President Muhammadu Buhari and the people of Nigeria for the August 14 tragedy”.

    He added: “The history of the two countries goes far back and the blood of both countries runs through the same veins.”

    The minister added that “Nigeria would always stand by Sierra Leone”.

    The minister explained that owing to the large volume of relief materials, there is the possibility of sending some by sea.

    So far, four flights conveying about 60 metric tonnes of relief materials have been undertaken with another 16 flights planned.

    Koroma, while thanking President Muhammadu Buhari whom he referred to as a brother, noted that Buhari was “one of the first Heads of State to call and sympathise with us when the incident occurred”.

    He added that Nigeria’s support to Sierra Leone was not new.

    Koroma noted support provided by Nigeria during the 11 year civil war, during the Ebola epidemic and after the mudslide and flood disaster.

    He expressed delight over Buhari’s return to Nigeria after a successful medical treatment in the United Kingdom.

    TheNewsGuru.com reports that the mudslide occurred on August 14 in Sierra Leone killing over 200 people.

     

  • Mudslide: Sierra Leone declares seven days mourning

    Sierra Leone’s President, Ernest Bai Koroma has declared seven days of mourning across the country with immediate effect.

    The president made the announcement on Tuesday over the recent mudslide in the country that caused huge loss of lives and massive devastation on the outskirts of the capital city – Freetown.

    According to a statement from the Office of the President, the national mourning will start from August 16 to Aug 22, during which period all flags would be flown at half mast.

    The general public is also requested to observe a minute of silence at 12 midday on Wednesday, the statement said.

    President Muhammadu Buhari on Thursday called Sierra Leonean President, Ernest Koroma to sympathize with him over the mudslide incident.

    The statement reads: “The President has further decided to invoke MAC-C (Military Aid to Civil Community) and to raise the national security threat level to level 3 in direct response to the unfolding emergency situation.

    ” Bereaved families are requested to continue to identify their fallen loved ones at the Connaught Hospital Mortuary between 9 am and 5 pm Wednesday at the mortuary where they will be advised on the burial procedure.

    “Unidentified corpses will be given dignified burial at Waterloo between Aug 17 and Aug 18.

    “The government will continue to provide the public with regular updates on the situation.”

  • Buhari calls Sierra Leone President, Bai Koroma over mudslide

    President Muhammadu Buhari has condoled with President Ernest Bai Koroma and the people of Sierra Leone over the loss of lives and devastation caused by mudslide in the West African country.

    Mr Femi Adesina, Presidential Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, said Buhari expressed his condolence in a telephone call from London to Koroma on Tuesday.

    Buhari stated that the hearts of Nigerians were with the people of Sierra Leone in this tragic period in the history of the country.

    He prayed that Almighty God would comfort those mourning their loved ones as well as those that suffered other losses.

    Koroma thanked Buhari for his show of concern, brotherly love and wished him good health.

    At least 270 people were reportedly killed on Monday after heavy rains over ran the city’s drainage system and created one of the most devastating floods Freetown has experienced.