The presidential candidates of the major political parties contesting in the Sierra Leone 2023 general elections have signed a peace pledge towards a peaceful election this June.

All the candidates converged at the Bintumani International Conference Centre in Freetown, Sierra Leone on Thursday for the landmark occasion.

Among the presidential candidates present were Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and Samura Kamara of the All People’s Congress (APC).

Convened by the Inter-Religious Council and the National Council of Paramount Chiefs, the Electoral Pledge is supported by international stakeholders and a coalition of civil society organizations.

Thursday’s ceremony serves as a platform for presidential candidates and the political parties of Sierra Leone to publicly commit to upholding peace before, during and after the upcoming elections and to use the judicial system for any electoral disputes.

The pledge will reinforce existing national efforts towards peaceful election processes, national cohesion, and a stable political environment within the country.

After the signing of the pledge, President Julius Maada Bio (SLPP) and Samura Kamara (APC) both shared a photo. The Secretary generals of the ruling SLPP, Umaru Napoleon Koroma and Lansana Dumbuya of the major opposition party APC also took a picture as a symbol of their commitment to peace.

See photos below: