Inauguration ceremony for Liberia’s newly elected President Joseph Boakai has passed off while his Sierra Leonean counterpart, Julius Maada Bio is yet to hold his. The 79-year old, Boakai was elected President in October last year, almost four months after Bio’s election. He defeated the incumbent, George Opong Manneh Weah in a narrow margin.
Upon his election, Boakai was congratulated by the various countries including the United States, custodian of democracy in the world. The US and the UK as well as other countries have pledged to work with Liberia’s new government.
Boakai’s inauguration took place in Liberia’s capital, Monrovia attended by various dignitaries including President Bio although many said he was not invited.
Boakai succeeded Weah who was equally congratulated for ensuring a smooth political transition after ruling only for a term contrary to expectations that he would rig the elections.
He was particularly appreciated by the international community as he had all what it took to rig the elections as his challenger defeated him with just a small number approximately 7,000 votes. Despite the narrow lead, ex-President Weah conceded defeat and gave up power to ensure that peace and tranquility prevailed in a land he cherished so much. It is a sign of patriotism.
Unlike Weak, President Bio is bones with the West and the United States after he refused to transfer power although election observers said he did not win the June 24 polls. It is now over half a year after Bio claimed to have won the polls, but has never held an inauguration ceremony raising doubt about his real victory.
Sierra Leoneans have waited for years without answers about Bio’s inauguration which no one can tell what it would be held. Sierra Leone has never been at ease since President Bio was declared winner of the elections as evidenced by waves of protests that have recently taken place
September 11, 2023 protest in Sierra Leone’s capital, Freetown and other parts of the country sent loud and clear call to government that the people would not accept a rigged election with Sierra Leoneans calling for Bio to either step side or allow a rerun election.
Police response to the riot was heavy -handed as several protesters were knocked down with government putting the casualty figure at six while unofficial sources suggest a higher one. A disabled top-up seller, Alfred Kallon was fatally injured in a police shoot out at Moyiba community, east of Freetown.
Dozens were arrested, investigated and arraigned in several courts in Freetown.
Threats of protests and other forms of police resistance continued even after the September protests as seen in the attacks on police and military facilities in Freetown on November 26, last year. Renegades and ex-servicemen were said to have raided the armouries at Wilberforce and Murray Town Barracks as well as several police stations and armouries at Calaba Town, Jui and other parts of Eastend Freetown.
The attack which initially was described a “security breach” later became “an attempted coup,” leading to several arrest of serving soldiers and civilians including former President Ernest Bai Koroma who was slammed with a four-count treason charge.
Arrest warrant still remains in force for the arrest of 12 fugitives believed to have played significant role in the coup to oust Bio. Threats have not gone away amid ongoing prosecutions and pronouncement of more arrest in coming days. The people of Sierra Leone particularly those in Freetown are calling for fresh protest as a platform to express their resistance to Bio’s rule.
Protest against Bio’s government started just three years into Bio’s first term with August 10, 2022 being the bloodiest with 31 people including six police officers murdered in a day. Over 500 protesters fell in the police net and prosecuted with others seeing the light of day only after an alleged prison break last November.
The August 10 protest was also a response by Sierra Leoneans to a cost-of-living crisis that had gripped Sierra Leone since Bio took over state governance although the demonstration was seen as a move to topple Bio. Another protest also took place prior to the August 10 as women took to the street in July, 2022 wailing over the economic tough times.
Most of the protesters were also arrested and detained but later released without charges.
Petty traders and shop owners also revolted against government by locking down their shops close to a week costing government several billions of Leones in taxes. Pockets of protests also took place thereafter spelling hard times for President Bio whose determination for a second term remained strong at every tick of the clock.
As Bio grapples with protests in almost every corner of Sierra Leone, he also faces an Election Investigation Committee set up by government to look into alleged irregularities of the June polls and come up with “actionable” and “implementable” recommendations.
According to the terms of the agreement, Bio is bound to comply, but a big question mark hangs on his acceptance of any other election other than 2028 as such move is a direct affront to his political existence. Pressure from local and international circles however continues to mount on him so that he can comply with the committee’s investigation in the interest of peace and stability.
Bio’s current headache started in June 27, last year after the allged fraudulent pronouncement of the election result by Chief Electoral Commissioner, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh. He announced a 56.17% votes for the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) leaving 43.83% for the main opposition, All People’s Congress (APC).
The election result, since the pronouncement, has been one of contention that continued to undermine the pillars of peace in post-war Sierra Leone. Almost all election observation missions discredited the election exercise saying it “lacked transparency” and that Bio held a “stolen mandate.” EU, Commonwealth, Carter Center, AU, ECOWAS, G7+ condemned the elections especially in its tabulation exercise.
The use of violence and terror to rig the elections was also captured by international reports released by election observation missions. The EU election report delved into intermittent waves of firing of teargas canisters and live rounds at APC offices including its headquarters in Freetown.
Most of the shooting sprees, according to the report, were fatal with a nurse falling victim. Prior to the publication of the report, Violence before, during and after the polls was brought to the public domain by EU Chief Election Observer, Ivin Incir who said “live rounds were fired during and after voting.”
She made the statement in a press briefing held a day prior to the announcement of the election results. Local election observer groups also found it difficult to accept the election results saying ECSL (Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone) has never been honest and transparent in all stages leading to the pronouncement of the election results.
ECSL, according to the Public Elections Act, 2022, is obliged to conduct and supervise free and fair elections, but many say the agency has failed to live up to its expectation owing to ceaseless criticisms of the election. On the frontline of the criticism was NEW (National Elections Watch), an umbrella body of civil society organisations specialised in election observation and reporting.
Relying on the PRVT (Process and Result Verification for Transparency), NEW boss, Marcella Samba Sesay projected that no candidate got the 55% threshold needed to avoid a runoff, but Konneh said otherwise, a move that left Bio in deep legitimacy crisis.
Several sectors of society especially North-West regions still do not accept President Bio and his ministers who, they say, are “servants of an illegal regime.”
At the moment Bio seems pre-occupied with finding ways to legitimise his government and mobilise local and international support without anyone knowing when the inauguration will come.