An Afrobarometer survey has shown that while a majority of Sierra Leonean citizens (69%) nationally believe the 2023 election was “completely free and fair” or “free and fair with minor problems,” this national figure conceals a dramatic geographical chasm.

Sierra Leone is a nation deeply split in its perception of the last presidential election, with views on its fairness breaking down almost perfectly along regional and political party lines, the survey indicates.

In the Eastern and Southern regions, strongholds of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), agreement is overwhelming. Ninety-four percent (94%) of Eastern residents and 90% in the South deem the election free and fair. However, in opposition-aligned areas, the picture reverses. Fewer than half of residents in the Western Area (44%), the Northern Region (46%), and the North West (48%) share this positive assessment.

“The data reveals two distinct realities coexisting within one country,” said Andrew Lavali, Executive Director of the Institute for Governance Reform, which conducted the survey. “Where you live and which party you support overwhelmingly shapes your fundamental view of whether the last electoral process was legitimate.”

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This geographic divide is intrinsically linked to political affiliation. Among citizens who feel close to the SLPP, 93% viewed the election as free and fair. Conversely, only 41% of All People’s Congress (APC) supporters agreed. Non-partisan citizens fell in between at 59%.

The polarization persists despite high levels of personal electoral freedom reported by citizens across the board. An overwhelming 98% of Sierra Leoneans said they felt free to choose whom to vote for without pressure, and 89% believed their vote was secret.

Analysts warn that this entrenched divide over a foundational democratic event poses a serious challenge to national cohesion. The lack of a shared narrative on the election’s legitimacy complicates dialogue and undermines trust in shared institutions.

“When the basic facts of an election are in dispute along partisan lines, it creates a brittle political environment,” noted a Freetown-based political analyst. “It means every future political event is viewed through the lens of these entrenched, opposing perceptions.”

The survey suggests that bridging this perceptual gap is as critical as implementing technical electoral reforms ahead of the 2028 polls, as the country’s unity and stability may hinge on achieving a broader consensus on the rules of the democratic game.

Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio was re-elected for a second term on June 24, 2023 in an election the EU and the Carter Centre said was marred with fraud and malpractice. The EU, in particular, said the results lacked statistical consistencies.

In a similar vein, the leader of the main opposition party All People’s Congress (APC), Samura Kamara refused to accept the result urging the election body, the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) to publish the full results of the 2023 multi-tier election.

Recently, the government and the APC committed to peace-thanks to the US, UK and the EU among others who set up a Committee to look into the ills of the 2023 elections. Named the Tripartite Committee, key members from both parties agreed to work on 169 recommendations in June 2024. However, the Committee decided to focus on 80 key recommendations which include transparency, strong electoral systems, and institutional and legislative reforms.

Despite the Tripartite Committee report, Dr. Kamara has maintained his demand for a re-election, citing “divergent areas” in the report where the committee failed to propose solutions for the disputed election results. According to Kamara, APC’s own processed results indicated that it received 57.15% of the vote, compared to President Bio’s 39.40%.