The two leading parties in Sierra Leone, the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) have signed in Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to promote political tolerance and peaceful conduct ahead of the five By-Elections on Saturday 25th June 2022.

The signing of the MOU between the leadership of the APC and the SLPP took place in the presence of the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC), the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), Office of National Security (ONS), the Sierra Leone Police (SLP), and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) on Wednesday 22nd June 2022.

In the MOU, both parties agreed to refrain from the use of obscene language, insulting songs, and hate speech against themselves and other state functionaries and to individually, collectively, and actively promote tolerance and condemn any act of violence and intimidation by their supporters and members throughout the electioneering cycle.

The parties also agreed to continue to obey the security sector’s ban on the use of political party marshals and that all political actors, party stalwarts, and non accredited individuals who are not ordinarily resident nor eligible to vote in those elections must not be seen within the precincts of Polling Centres on polling day.

It was also agreed that party officials accredited will be allowed in the Constituency and Wards and that contesting political parties, their candidates, and supporters shall refrain from all forms of violence.

The MOU signed by officials of the two political parties is posted below 👇🏽