If lines on the wall are properly read, there is nothing wrong for one to say Sierra Leone is on the brink of becoming another Rwanda where over 800, 000 Tutsi minority and moderate Hutus were hacked to death in few days.
Lack of unity among the two main tribes, political cleavages, weak economy, tribalised public institutions, weak security institutions and endangered democracy and rule of law define Sierra Leone in the past five years.
The ugly hallmarks still continue to take root at every tick of the clock, and are dangerous for a country that has emerged from one of the bloodiest guerrilla warfares in Africa.
According to writers of history particularly the TRC (Truth and Reconciliation Commission) report, 2004, such conditions constituted elements of disorder in the evolution of the state of Sierra Leone in the early 80’ and 90s.
They must be nipped in the bud for the consolidation of peace and democracy but not under President Julius Maada Bio according political analysts.
Only a new President either Dr Samura Kamara or any who takes over state command can deliver the country out of the quagmire.
*Uniting The Tribes : The new President will face the daunting task of restoring peace and harmony among the two main tribes (Themne and Mende) after years of rift caused by inequalities in almost public sector.
Bio’s government, as shown by public perceptions, has succeeded in dividing tribes known for decades for improved ethnic relations characterised by inter-marriages, trade and commerce.
The rate of reported mass killings in the North-West regions for civil protest which normally is not the case in the South-East is an epitome of tribal segregation said to have been perpetrated by the Bio regime.
Residents in Bo and Kenema cities in South-East Sierra Leone could stage protest without arresting one talk less of killing any.
But, Freetown, Lungi, Makeni, Lunsar, Tombo and other remote communities in the North-West have seen brutal killings carried out by security forces who enjoy a field day.
Waves of indiscriminate arrest and arbitrary detention, intimidation and harassment, terror campaign and other forms of abuse of human rights are still carried out unabated against Residents in the North-West, a region that is predominantly occupied by the Themne.
The tribal feud could be diffused under a new government that provides equal opportunities for the citizens under the maxim that ALL TRIBES ARE EQUAL.
*Ensuring Political Harmony: If Sierra Leone is to proudly and enviably take its seat among the community of free and civilised nations, Political harmony must be at the top of the national agenda.
The harmony can be achieved by ensuring a project of political tolerance between the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) and the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the dominant forces in Sierra Leone’s political landscape.
It however comes with a high price: the highest political leader must disarm himself of the ‘personality cult,’ end the winner-takes-all syndrome and accept the maxim of UNITY IN DIVERSITY.
Although the two political parties have different ideologies, they can work together in the nation building project by PUTTING THE COUNTYR FIRST.
Political disunity showcased few days ago when APC grassroot members threatened to hit hard the opposition leader in parliament, Honourable Abdul Kargbo who was about to join Chief Minister, David Moinina Sengeh on a trip to the US in respect of the US$750m MCC (Millenium Challenge Corporation) compact.
The money, according to government sources, would be spent on the country’s eclectic energy supply and other hotly-needed social services.
Despite what appears a sound vision on the part of government, opposition politicians see it as an overt attempt to recognise and legitimse Bio’s government which many say lack the people’s mandate.
The disunity between the main parties is a reflection of the tribal enmity between the Themne and the Mende. Thus, political tolerance is the only way out.
*Strengthening The Economy: Building a new economy is one of the biggest and most difficult tasks for the incoming government, a country with the worst economic indicators in the world.
Sierra Leone still grapples with uncontrollable inflation (high prices), bad exchange rate, budget and balance of payment deficits, unfavourable terms of trade, weak revenue base and the list continues.
Prices of goods and services rise frequently on a scale equal to an hyper-inflation usually experienced in war and emergency situations.
The sad state is worsened by the bad exchange rate evidenced by the continuous depreciation of the Leone, that is, Le2,360 (two million, three hundred and sixty thousand Leones) chasing US$100.
The country’s recent budget tabled in parliament is a mere white elephant without donor support. Little or nothing goes on at the moment after the presentation of the budget by the Finance Minister in late November, last year. Donor money is not coming.
The international community (US, UK, EU, Germany, France, World Bank and International Monetary Fund) is not willing to support a government whose legitimacy is an object of intense debate in local and international circles.
Amid the economic crunch, Sierra Leone still continues to receive less for her exports, a situation that results into a weak revenue system making it difficult for government to effectively provide the much-needed social services to the people.
For Sierra Leone to rise again, the new government must liberalise and stabilise the economy by making it investment-friendly by building the social capital, insdustrialise the primary productive sector to curtail balance of payment deficit, mechanise and commercialise agariculture to feed the nation and even export to other countries, improve the export of Sierra Leone’s services to other countries, reduce taxes and end leakages.
*Overhauling Public Institutions
Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), the judiciary, among others, are badly in need of reform considering the role played over the years that has resulted into the current political tension in the country.
Other institutions are trapped in the same debacle if only a cursory inspection of their composition is carried out.
Between 2018 and 2023, the aforementioned institutions, deviated from their traditional functions: ECSL failed to conduct free and fair elections as laid down in the Public Elections Act, Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC) failed to regulate the ruling party, but comes down hard on opposition parties especially APC for slight ethical breaches. Other public institutions are under a tight state capture.
The systems failures constitute grave concern as Sierra Leone needs strong institutions as clearly espoused by ex-US President, Barrack Obama who said “Africa does not need strong men but needs strong institutions.”
It will however be a great task for the new government build and reform institutions and not under President Bio.
The calibre of personnel manning public institutions is an indicator of service delivery to their people. Sierra Leone, in the immediate post-war period, witnessed an era of institutional capacity building and construction of new ones manned by the right personnel under President Ahmed Tejan Kabba.
Erstwhile President Ernest Bai Koroma continued in the same trajectory but the institutions quickly fell back in the hands political charlatans.
*Reforming The Security Sector: The TRC report, 2004 recommended that “government must devise new principles of national security that reflect the will of Sierra Leoneans to live in peace and harmony.”
The Kabba government, in response to such recommendation, reformed the Sierra Leone Police (SLP) supported by the Commonwealth Community Safety and Security Project (CCSSP) funded largely by the United Kingdom.
The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces was also similarly restructured by the International Military Advisory Training Team (IMATT) also funded by the UK. The trajectory continued on to the time ex-President koroma took over state governance.
However, Sierra Leone’s security situation badly deteriorated since Bio was sworn in as President. The two forces have been lording it over the opposition the people who they are under oath to protect.
Sierra Leoneans have seen mass killings, unlawful arrest and detention and other forms of unprofessionalism that threaten national peace and security, and calls for the reversal of such trend have intensified over the years.
The people wanted to see a reborn police and army that will live up to the people’s expectations.
*Strengthening Democracy And The Rule Of Law: Democracy and the rule of law are two sides of the coin as one cannot go without the other. Democracy embodies free, fair and periodic election, rule of law, recognition and respect for human rights and free speech.
Public institutions also plays significant role in the achievement of such objectives.
ECSL, PPRC, the judiciary, the police and the army matter in this function and have measured up in recent times.
Despite few challenges, election authorities have been conducting credible elections since 1996 to date. James Jonah, Christiana Thorpe, Mohamed N’fa Alie Conteh held acceptable elections that ushered acceptable government.
Mohamed Konneh is not part of the honour roll as he announced a fraudulent election results that have been rejected outright by the people of Sierra Leone and the international community.
The people are calling for fresh election to have a new President. Rule of law in Sierra Leone is under serious threat as seen in the level of lawlessness and recklessness on the streets of Freetown and other parts of the country.
Two high courts in Freetown recently removed 10 APC members of parliament trampling on the Public Elections Act, 2022.The law in question says a rerun should be conducted where a petition holds.
A Proportional Representation (PR) system of election was also forced into the people by the Supreme Court when no such situation warranted it. The judiciary takes the blame for the PR mode of election which favours only the ruling party.
Sierra Leone would come out of the woods only if these reforms are implemented under a new government after fresh elections.