Voting in Sierra Leone under a crippling economic crisis

Despite a catastrophic economic crisis that led to violent rioting last year, Sierra Leoneans went to the polls on Saturday to elect President Julius Maada Bio to a second term.

As one of the world’s poorest nations, Sierra Leone was ravaged by a bloody civil war from 1991 to 2002 and the Ebola pandemic a decade later.

Following the coronavirus outbreak and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which significantly raised food costs in the import-dependent West African country, more economic hardship was experienced.

Boubacar Conteh, 27, waited since four in the morning to cast his ballot. He is from Wellington, which is east of Freetown.

He declared, “I need change; I want my country to transform.

The incumbent Bio is up against Samura Kamara of the All People’s Congress (APC) party in the race for the top post, which features twelve males and one woman.

It’s possible that they will clash once more. In a 2018 runoff, Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), who is 59 years old, narrowly defeated Kamara, who is 72 years old.

For many voters in the eight million-person country, rising food prices are a crucial issue. April saw 43% year over year inflation.

Both Bio and Kamara told AFP that they would give increasing agricultural productivity first priority.

Security guard Mohamed Waritay, 27, stated that Bio had increased education spending tremendously and that this was why he was voting for him.

“I never paid a single cent from 2019” on education, he claimed.

According to Waritay, Bio “built a hospital in my village with 100 beds,” noting that “people were suffering, especially the pregnant women who had to take a motorbike to go to the nearest town.”

According to AFP correspondents, polling places opened later than the scheduled time of 7 a.m. in the capital city of Freetown, notably in the region around the Wilberforce Barracks. At 5 p.m. (1700 GMT), they were scheduled to close.

According to a representative for the electoral commission, 3.4 million people are registered to vote, with 52.4% of them being under the age of 35.

For a first-round victory, contenders for president must receive 55% of the total valid votes.

Over the last three elections, turnout has fluctuated between 76% and 87%.

Following a last-minute transition from a first-past-the-post system, voters will elect representatives to parliament and members of local councils under a proportional representation system.

One-third of all candidates must be women in accordance with a recently enacted gender act.

Independents and small parties will have a hard time winning seats in parliament because of the increased 11.9% vote threshold.

Regional allegiances are a major factor in many Sierra Leoneans’ voting decisions.

Most individuals from the south and east typically support the ruling SLPP, whereas the bulk of those from the north and west typically support the opposition APC.

It’s a prevalent belief that locations where powerful politicians are in office gain from employment and benefits.

Former coup leader Bio has fought for women’s rights and education during his first civilian tenure.

The election commission has come under fire from former foreign and finance minister Kamara for suspected prejudice in favor of the ruling party.

In a case he claims is politically motivated, he is currently facing a protracted trial over allegations that he misused public funds while serving as the foreign minister.

A June 14 poll by the Institute for Governance Reform (IGR), a collaborator with the pan-African survey organization Afrobarometer, predicts Bio will receive 56% of the vote, with Kamara receiving 43%.

According to a different survey by the publication Sierra Eye and two regional data groups, the incumbent is expected to receive 38% of the vote and his primary rival would receive 25%.

In West Africa, a region recently characterized by coups and unrest, the elections are being intently watched.

Following reports of election-related “aggression,” a number of foreign ambassadors called for peace in a joint statement on Wednesday.

In the capital, Freetown, security personnel and APC supporters fought.

At least 27 people and six police officers were killed in rioting in August of last year.

The violence has been exacerbated by online disinformation tactics.