Sierra Leone's Tripartite Agreement: A Historic Move Towards Electoral Reform and Stability
Sierra Leone is set to benefit from a significant tripartite agreement involving three key parties: the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), currently in power; the main opposition, the All People Congress (APC); and members of the international community alongside Sierra Leonean human rights organizations.
There is hope that this partnership will result in significant advancements and urgently required changes that will benefit the country. The long-standing problems with the nation's election laws are the reason this tripartite group is required. All save the 2023 election have been subject to legal petitions since Sierra Leone's actual democracy was established.
Dr. Samura Kamara, the APC's presidential candidate, decided against taking legal action in 2023, perhaps out of concern for retaliation or karmic repercussions. This is why there was no petition.
After
the 2012 presidential election, current President Julius Maada Bio, who was
then the opposition candidate, filed a petition in the Supreme Court against
the declared winner, Ernest Koroma. The Supreme Court dismissed the case on
procedural grounds, citing that Koroma’s name was not mentioned in the
petition. This dismissal occurred despite existing High Court rules that
prevent a case from being dismissed due to misjoinder or non-joinder,
empowering the court to add or remove necessary parties.
The tripartite committee is expected to address several flaws in the electoral system. For instance, the Public Elections Act previously allowed only a brief window for filing petitions seven working days in 2012 and fourteen in 2018.
This limited timeframe will be revised. Another critical issue was the
provision in the Elections Act that permitted a sitting president to decide the
election date and extend their tenure twice by six months each. This loophole
enabled former President Ernest Bai Koroma to legally extend his term from ten
to eleven years.
The
committee aims to introduce fixed dates for elections every five years,
eliminating the possibility of extensions or tampering with election dates.
These reforms are expected to ensure fairness and stability in future polls, fostering a sense of security and confidence among the citizens.
The
committee's recommendations, due next week, are anticipated to bring widespread
relief and happiness nationwide. With these changes, Sierra Leoneans can
look forward to lasting peace and stability in their electoral process.
Successful implementation of these reforms will mark a significant milestone
for Sierra Leone, ensuring that the electoral system is fair, transparent, and
devoid of previous flaws. This tripartite agreement is a testament to the
collaborative efforts of political parties, international bodies, and human
rights organizations working together for the country's betterment.
Conclusively, the tripartite agreement portends a positive future for Sierra Leone, since it offers reforms aimed at establishing a more resilient and just electoral system. Because of this historic cooperation, the country is poised to enter a new age of political stability and democratic integrity.