“Let Sit and Talk Instead of Fighting To Destroy Our Country”
…President Bio Appeals to Tripartite International Committee
By Elizabeth Campbell
President Julius Maada Bio has called on members of the tripartite committee and the international committee to sit together and talk rather than fighting which has the tendency to destroy the country.
“My government has resorted to sit down and talk with the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party instead of fighting and destroying our country’s economy.” President Bio told the gathering at State House.
The President was speaking during the gathering of the Independent Cross-Party Committee on Electoral Systems and Management Bodies Review at State House in Freetown.
“We have a moral responsibility to say no to violence. All of us Africans are proud because Sierra Leoneans have decided to put their differences aside for the sake of peace,” she noted.
Leader of the APC, Dr. Samura Kamara, stated that he was happy to see that the two major political parties have come together to settle their differences, noting that even the fiercest wars were always settled on the table.
“We have identified electoral wrongs and if we are not correcting those wrongs, we would not build strong democracy. But this Independent Cross-Party Committee on Electoral Systems and Management Bodies Review has actually address those wrongs,” he said.
The statement by President Bio was acknowledge by Dr. Samura Kamara former flagbearer of the All Peoples Congress in the 2023 Presidential election noting the significant progress been made.
“Our resolve to political stability is entrenched to achieve economic progress and stability. This agreement for national unity is indeed one to be proud of and with this meeting peace has been achieved,” he said.
Representative of the ECOWAS and the African Union, the moral guarantors of the national unity dialogue, Fatoumata Jallow-Tambajang, former Vice President of The Gambia, told the gathering that today’s presentation of the joint communique was a milestone in the history of Sierra Leone.
“Today, you have achieved as citizens of Sierra Leone not as political parties or SLPP or APC. You have resorted to forget about your ethnic and political differences and embrace peace. As moral guarantors, we are not supporting any political party but peace and national unity,” Madam Tambajang said.
She recalled that any time they come to Sierra Leone, President Julius Maada Bio would reiterate his commitment to peace, noting that the message from now on must be peace.
Government’s Lead Negotiator, Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, while speaking said political stability is essential for national development, adding that the agreement for national unity was so important that he would have to bring it to cabinet for government’s buy-in.
“The committee engaged Sierra Leoneans across the country. We identified 86 issues and we have resolved 69 and the remaining 17 issues would be resolved shortly. As a result, we are kindly asking for an extension of time so that we can resolve those 17 issues and bring the full report.
This committee is not government versus APC but it is for the reforms of the electoral systems and management bodies’ review,” he said.
In his response after receiving the joint communique from both Dr. Samura Kamara and Dr. David Moinina Sengeh, President Julius Maada Bio said the Independent Cross-Party Committee on Electoral Systems and Management Bodies Review, was established because both the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) party have always have concerns on issues of the conduct of elections by Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone.
“With these electoral management reforms, we are saving the future generation from violence and confusion. Democracy is a process that can develop over time. We are setting examples that could be used elsewhere,” he told his audience.
President Bio said he was aware that out of the 86 issues identified, there were still 17 issues to be resolved, thereby urging the committee to go and resolve those issues and come back with a mission accomplished report.
“I am happy to receive the joint communique from both Dr. Samura Kamara and Dr. David Moinina Sengeh. There is every reason to be optimistic. We should encourage our supporters to follow what we have done in resolving our differences,” President Bio stated.
The President thanked the United Nations, the US Ambassador and British High Commissioner, ECOWAS and the African Union, for their unwavering support to Sierra Leone’s national unity.
