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Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio has made a noteworthy commitment to engage in dialogue with the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC) with a condition that his government’s demands are met.
This commitment was revealed on Sunday by Aja Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, the former Vice President of The Gambia who doubles as the lead facilitator of the mediation dialogue, supported by the Commonwealth, ECOWAS, and African Union.
President Bio’s assurance to participate in the dialogue process signals a willingness to find common ground and seek peaceful solutions to the country’s political challenges. However, this commitment is not unconditional, as President Bio has attached a key requirement.
The much-anticipated crucial dialogue between the Government of Sierra Leone and its opposition, All People’s Congress (APC) kicked off on Monday, October 16, 2023. The three-day dialogue is holding at the Bintumani Hotel in Freetown.
It’s worth noting that the APC previously rejected the June 24 election results, citing significant irregularities and breaches of electoral procedures. As a result, they opted out of participating in governance across various tiers, including the legislature and local councils.
Supporters of the APC are now eagerly awaiting a potential re-run of the June 24 elections. On the other hand, supporters of the incumbent government are confident that there won’t be another election, asserting that the results announced by the Chief Electoral Commissioner of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) will stand. They emphasize that the ECSL is an autonomous entity responsible for finalizing election outcomes.
Aja Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, who is leading the mediation efforts, stressed the importance of prioritizing the nation’s welfare over individual or party interests.
In a meeting with journalists and civil society organizations, she emphasized that Sierra Leone’s unity and prosperity should take precedence over any other considerations. “Sierra Leone is bigger than anyone,” she asserted, underscoring the significance of working together for the greater good of the country as the dialogue process unfolds.
The mediated dialogue between the Sierra Leonean government and the APC is expected to be a pivotal moment in the nation’s political landscape, as stakeholders come together to address critical issues and work towards a more harmonious and stable future.
The conditions set by President Bio, while emphasizing the need for a balanced and fair agreement, reflect a commitment to the democratic process and conflict resolution. As the talks progress, the eyes of the nation and the international community remain focused on the outcomes of this significant dialogue.
What is the essence of this dialogue in the first place? Every party knows their rights; the rights of the people; and the constitution. So why are people behaving like headless chickens, with no brains. Can we just stop all these nonsense and do what is right for our country? For those of you who just want to bring this country to a standstill, Nemesis will hunt you. The people will one day come to their senses and will punish you for what you are doing to our country.
We the people says that the peace of this nation is our paority so we need the re_run election
Lawal may God bless you, you really have sense. Those who think they are on the other side to destriy this country will one day pay for it. Marshalla!
I know there will be a fruitless endeavor in this whole process. This is a waste of resources, how can a foreigner and also double as ECOWAS head of the mediation team present issues on the so call SLPP government. Where are the SLPP representatives? What are they doing?
You cannot be a player and a referee at this so call mediation.
I advise that the APC must stay aside and let them run their government. Because nothing will come out of this dialogue.
Who else would have wanted to bring this country to a standstill than the ECSL (and SLPP), by refusing to release the much talked about disaggregated data? This is the transparency issue the world is emphasizing!!!
My take on this so called dialogue is that it seems like we want to legalise electoral fraud and what ever example we set in this is going to accept the whole Africa electioneering processes. Somebody sometime in the future is going to use Sierra Leone case to an example to either fraud elections or not to fraud it based on the outcome of the Sierra Leone case. I believe this matter was not supposed to start without the ECSL boss Mr konneh. He is supposed to be in this meeting because he has caused the damage and he should be there to answer some questions. I feel ashamed to see government defending the ECSL boss. What do you think about this when government build defence for the ECSL boss. How independent is the ECSL?
The National Symbol of Sierra Leone is based on “Unity, Freedom and JUSTICE”. The bedrock of Peace is Justice.
Where there is JUSTICE, there is true PEACE.
Let no one fool you: without Justice, Peace becomes a figment of the imagination.
“NO JUSTICE, NO TRUE PEACE”. This is the reality in life; let us face the fact.
It actually unfortunate, for these apcian . Reasonable if we take a look at previous electoral activities of the apc, then I can say their party is not serious in any form of shape. My reasons are as follows with such questions : Why is it that apc feels they are the only solution in governance ?
Just a waste of time and resources of the country
What goes around comes around, now APC have felt the pinch of salt, of their past electoral fraud they did to SLPP 2007 and 2012 respectively, nothing absolutely came out of it. HE BIO is a man of his words and has said it crestal clear, that, there will be NO OTHER ELECTION, PERIOD. Without APC, SLPP government is progressing. It’s better for you guys to start negotiating for your terminal benefits etc instead of demanding for things that won’t be possible. I suggest you go back to the drawing board and put your house in other for 2028.
No wonder a stooge is alway stooge. The so-called Ecowas team leader seems to be coming from the moon. She seems not to understand the danger and dynamics of the situation in Sierra Leone.
A POSSIBLE RE-RUN OF THE ELECTIONS IS THE ONLY WAY OUT.
I don’t understand why Ecowas chose this typical woman who has no in-depth knowledge and dynamics of the situation Sierra Leone as a country now find itself in.
Look at her shallow or narrow biased related antics made to the media. She has conflict of interest, therefore, this then disqualify her from being a facilitator in the first place.
It’s seems Ecowas is really out of touch with reality. No wonder, that’s why we now seeing coup upon coup in west Africa, because Ecowas is really not truthful institution at all.
Ecowas there can be no head way if the reality, the facts, and truth, about the elections stolen results is not established. Sierra Leoneans will not accept Bio as president oooh no.
Ecowas please help to address the situation in the country. Fraudulent elections were held and elections results tampered with & above all stolen by these do nothing so-called president and defunct government.
Currently the country called Sierra Leone has no legitimate and legally constituted regime or recognise government in place.
So what the country have currently is a gba gbaty related bogus so-called government, which has never been accepted by the people of Sierra Leone and the international community.
cautioned Ecowas, Caution Ecowas
Bad precedence set will have to be dealt with in a painful way. 2007 and 2012 actions by the then NEC are raising heads now by the key players or actors then. Can these people give reasons for the cry of a rerun of elections?
Anyways all what I know is what goes around comes around period. Right now e dae pain dem n e get for morna dem very seriously aaa boo e painful but una get for beah for the next twenty years
We don’t need any re run election here, please Mr president.let them go to Christiana throp
Any election re-run based on the current anomalous ELECTORAL REGISTER would be illegitimate because of flaws in its administration and management.
Let all of us ask ECSL boss to produce the said result so that our country will go normal. Let see the results so this nonsense will stop and proceed as a nation.