Usif Kamara Elected Paramount Chief of Bombali Sebora Chiefdom in Makeni Following Decisive Run-off

Usif Kamara has been declared the Paramount Chief Elect of the Bombali Sebora Chiefdom, successfully concluding a highly anticipated electoral process to fill a three-year vacancy.

Kamara, representing the Pate Bana Masimbo Ruling House, secured a decisive victory in a run-off election held on Sunday, April 12. He will succeed the late Paramount Chief Bai Sebora Kasanga II, who passed away in 2023.

According to the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), Kamara defeated his opponent, Edward Sullay Kamara, by a significant margin.

Usif Kamara: 1,035 votes
Edward Sullay Kamara: 327 votes

Following the decisive poll among chiefdom authorities, the official outcome was validated and endorsed by Assessor Paramount Chiefs P.C. Bai Kompa Bomboli III and P.C. Kandeh Bangura Gbetgbo.

The run-off was triggered after an initial round of voting on Saturday, April 11, failed to produce an outright winner.

During the first round, nine candidates vied for the revered traditional seat. By electoral law, a candidate was required to secure at least 55% of the total votes to be declared the winner. When no candidate met this threshold, the ECSL scheduled the Sunday run-off between the top two contenders.

The election drew strong community participation and was closely monitored by local authorities. Voting took place at the Practising Field in Makeni City, where six polling stations were established to facilitate the electorate, which consisted exclusively of Tribal Authorities and Chiefdom Councillors.

To ensure the integrity and safety of the process, a visible police presence was deployed around the voting venue. Prior to the polls, the provincial secretary and ECSL officials successfully urged all candidates, supporters, and Tribal Authorities to respect the law and allow the democratic process to run its course without interference.

With the election concluded, Kamara now prepares to officially take the throne as the new custodian of tradition and local governance for one of Bombali District’s most significant chiefdoms.