Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio on Tuesday evening to fully implement an agreement reached with the opposition under international mediation to overcome tensions exacerbated by disputed elections in June.
As part of the agreement the two parties reached earlier this month, Bio also reaffirmed the need for a review of the electoral system in a national address.
“Reviewing our election systems is critical to strengthening our democracy”, he said.
Bio, who was first elected in 2018, was re-elected in June with 56.17 percent of the vote, according to results published by the electoral commission — just over the 55 percent needed to avoid a run-off.
International observers, however, condemned inconsistencies and a lack of transparency in the count, as well as acts of violence and intimidation.
The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party disputed the results of the presidential, legislative and local elections on June 24 and has boycotted all levels of government since.
The government and the APC signed an agreement last week following talks mediated by the Commonwealth, the African Union and the West African bloc ECOWAS.
The APC agreed to end its boycott and begin participating in government in exchange for an end to detentions and court cases it said were politically motivated.
It also agreed to set up an inter-party committee to review the June elections with development partners.
“As we move forward, I urge all Sierra Leoneans to embrace the spirit of unity and reconciliation”, Bio said on Tuesday evening.
He urged citizens to set aside differences and work together.
“The provisions in this mediated dialogue agreement will receive the highest consideration from my government”, he said.
“The government will work with the main opposition party and all other political parties to ensure that it is fully implemented”.
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