By Mustapha Ezekiel Dumbuya
A Commonwealth Secretariat delegation meets with the All Peoples Congress (APC) party on Wednesday, 1 March 2023 on the June 24 multi-tier elections.
They came on a visit to help coordinate, consult and dialogue with the opposition parties and the SLPP ruling party. The meeting’s aim is to negotiate the potential for peace and political instability in the country ahead of the general elections.
There has been some smokescreen of political instability in Sierra Leone that resulted into violent protest. The most recent demotions by youth over the cost of leaving left many dead.
The gruesome death of six police personnel, including 21 unarmed civilians and the destructions of government and private properties had prompted development partners and the Commonwealth secretariat to quickly visit Sierra Leone.
These issues need being addressed through consultations by state authorities, including the opposition parties to protect the country’s fledgling democracy and to maintain peace and democracy in Sierra Leone.
Today, there are several opposition party members, especially those of the All People Congress who had suffered through being suppressed and harassed by the ruling government, including state securities officials.
Political instability had widely been reported. It had taken place in Sierra Leone on countless occasions. It must be address fairly by development partners before the country entered into the 2023 general elections.
