Freewotn (EFE).- The main opposition leader in Sierra Leone, Samura Kamara, denounced that the Army surrounded the headquarters of his party in the capital, Freetown, this Sunday, and used live ammunition and tear gas, while the count of the results continues of the general elections held last Saturday in the country.
“I have been entrenched in my party headquarters during my live press conference. Live ammunition and tear gas at my offices by government forces,” Kamara said late yesterday via the social network Twitter.
“People are lying on the ground and the military have surrounded the building. Live ammunition against my private office at party headquarters. This is an assassination attempt,” she added.
Alleged plot in the country’s elections
The politician launched this message after the presidential, parliamentary and municipal elections were held in the country on June 24, although the attention focused on the race between the two main candidates to occupy the head of state: the current president, Julius Maada Bio, 59, leader of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP); and Kamara, 72 years old and head of the Congress of All Peoples (APC).
This opposition formation already sent a letter to the country’s electoral authorities after the elections to denounce an alleged plot to “suppress” votes in their favor, by assuring that some voters did not find their names in the register when they wanted to exercise their right.
On the other hand, both parties expressed this Sunday through statements their confidence in their victory, according to their own electoral counts.
“According to our internal results counting processes, the SLPP is confident of a landslide victory (…) The results tabulated in our counting centers indicate that there will be no second round. The people have spoken overwhelmingly,” the ruling party said, accusing the APC of “unprovoked attacks” against its electoral agents.
Kamara, for his part, stated that “the APC is on an irreversible path towards an overwhelming victory” and that the formation will not accept “any biased, manipulated or unverified result.”
3.4 million Sierra Leoneans called to the polls
The opposition leader denounced that in some regional counting centers their representatives were not allowed to monitor the process, advancing that “the APC will not accept any result that has not been satisfactorily examined” by the party.
Some 3.4 million Sierra Leoneans – out of a population of 8.5 million inhabitants – were called this Saturday to vote in the more than 3,630 open polling stations throughout the country.
Although the election day took place without serious incidents, the head of the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL), Mohamed Konneh, regretted attacks against his workers in some parts of the country and pointed out that the counting could not start in certain districts due to ” violence and high tension”.
The elections were still held under the shadow of the protests on August 10 against the high cost of living, harshly repressed by the security forces and in which at least 27 civilians and six police officers died.
In addition, the Sierra Leonean authorities dispersed demonstrations called by the APC in various parts of the country last Wednesday, after describing them as “illegal”, and at least 66 people were arrested.
The EU calls for transparency in the counting of the electoral results of Sierra Leone
The European Union (EU) called for “transparency” from the electoral authorities of Sierra Leone and expressed its concern about the growing political tension during the recount of the results of the general elections that the country held last Saturday.
“Given the highly polarized political environment and prevailing mistrust, it is imperative that the Electoral Commission of Sierra Leone (ECSL) provide full transparency during the tabulation of results to ensure confidence in the electoral process,” he said via from a statement released last night by the head of the EU observation mission, Swedish MEP Evin Incir.