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Sierra Leone Election: Incumbent President Julius Maada Bio Leads Amid Controversy and Tensions

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Sierra Leone’s Presidential Election: Incumbent President Bio Secures Second Term

In the latest developments featuring the Sierra Leone election, incumbent President Julius Maada Bio is reportedly taking the lead in the presidential race. According to the electoral commission, who reported these statistics on Monday, around 60% of the total votes have been counted, with the lion’s share leaning towards Bio.

Securing a remarkable 55.86% of the ballots cast thus far, the current president has exceeded the minimum threshold of 55% votes required for a victory. This development positions him ahead in the race, which sees him contesting for his second term against 12 other candidates.

The most formidable opponent to Bio’s re-election is Samura Kamara from the All People’s Congress (APC), who had managed to accumulate 41.53% of the votes at this stage of counting. In the previous election held in 2018, Kamara narrowly missed out on the presidency, losing to Bio.

However, the announced tallies haven’t been received without controversy. The APC has already expressed its reservations about the numbers, denouncing them as “cooked-up figures” in a statement issued on Monday. The legitimacy of the electoral process is being questioned, with EU observers at a press conference citing a lack of transparency and communication by the electoral authority leading to mistrust.

Furthermore, the APC reported incidents of intimidation and attack on elected representatives in three districts on the day of the election, June 24. In a separate incident, the election commission revealed that numerous officials were assaulted across various regions in the country on Sunday.

A tragic incident unfolded at the party headquarters on Sunday when a woman, identified as a nurse and a party worker, was found dead following attempts by police to disperse opposition supporters during a post-election news conference. Opposition party members likened the event to a “horror film”, alleging the firing of “live rounds” and “shots”. Police, while not confirming the death, claimed they had used tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd causing a disturbance on the road.

In the wake of these events, Sierra Leone experienced a tense calm on Monday. Nonetheless, citizens remain apprehensive about potential unrest in the aftermath of the election results announcement.

In response to the unfolding situation in the Sierra Leone election, President Bio, after the provisional results were published, addressed the nation, urging the people to uphold peace. During his first term, Bio, a former coup leader, has been lauded for his efforts in promoting education and women’s rights.

His main opponent, Kamara, a former foreign and finance minister, is currently under scrutiny, facing trial over allegations of misappropriation of public funds. Kamara asserts that the charges are politically motivated.

These events transpire as Sierra Leone, a West African nation, continues its journey towards recovery from a devastating civil war spanning from 1991 to 2002, which resulted in over 50,000 fatalities.

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