US
Government Praises Sierra Leone's Tripartite Committee's Work Resumption Amid
Election Dispute
The
United States government has expressed approval of the Tripartite Committee's
resumed activities in Sierra Leone. This committee was established to address
allegations of election manipulation following the 2023 elections.
Post-election, the opposition All People’s Congress (APC), supported by international observers and groups like the National Election’s Watch (NEW), claimed the results were manipulated and called for a second round of voting.
The ruling
Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), however, dismissed these allegations,
maintaining that the elections were free and fair. To address these disputes,
the Tripartite Committee was formed to investigate the claims.
Tasked
with reviewing election results, certification processes, observer reports, and
the Public Elections Act of 2022, the committee was established through a
communiqué signed by both SLPP and APC in October last year, following
mediation by the international community, including the Commonwealth, African
Union, and ECOWAS. The committee was given a six-month mandate to complete its
investigation.
The
American government provided $1.5 million to support the committee's
operations. Despite this financial backing, there have been concerns about the
effective use of these funds due to perceived lack of progress and transparency
by the committee.
On
Friday, June 14, the APC suspended its participation in the Tripartite
Committee, citing the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone’s (ECSL) refusal to
release crucial data necessary to examine the final election results, including
the announced 60% outcomes.
However,
in a press release on June 18, 2024, the APC announced its decision to resume
participation in the Tripartite Committee despite ongoing challenges and lack
of cooperation from the SLPP government and the ECSL.
In
a statement, the US Embassy in Freetown said, "The United States welcomes
today’s resumption of the critical work of the Tripartite Committee. We urge
the committee to continue to work rapidly in the spirit of compromise to develop
comprehensive recommendations that will rebuild public trust in Sierra Leone’s
electoral institutions."
The
APC’s press release emphasized their commitment to electoral justice and
democratic principles amid adversity. They criticized the ECSL for providing
baseless justifications to conceal electoral malpractices and accused both the
SLPP government and ECSL of failing to produce or verify disaggregated data
from the June 24, 2023 elections, indicating potential discrepancies that
contradict the figures announced by ECSL Chairman Mohamed Konneh.
The
APC claims to have credible evidence of over-voting and other inconsistencies,
suggesting the announced election results were fabricated. The party asserts
that, apart from the ECSL, all involved in the June 2023 elections are aware of
the fabricated nature of the results. The APC vows to continue seeking truth
and justice, expressing determination to overcome the ECSL's perceived defiance
and to work with ECOWAS and AU mediators who visited their party office.
The
APC expressed gratitude for the unwavering support and patience from its
supporters during this period, reaffirming its dedication to fighting for
electoral justice and maintaining Sierra Leone’s democratic values. The party
vows to continue striving for transparent and accountable electoral processes,
ensuring that the will of the people is respected.