President Julius Maada Bio of Sierra Leone received the combined 2023 Annual and Elections Reports from Mohamed Konneh, Chief Electoral Commissioner and Chairman of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL), reiterating that no presidential elections will be held until 2028 as per legal stipulations.
The reports reviewed critical electoral processes contributing to the peaceful, free, fair, and inclusive participation in the 2023 presidential elections. This included parliamentary, paramount chief members of parliament, mayoral, chairperson, councillor, and village head elections. Konneh highlighted that presenting these reports is a constitutional requirement for the ECSL. He noted that they cover the implementation of the 2020–2024 strategic plan and recommendations from the 2018 Election Observation Mission.
During this period, the ECSL prioritized implementing 167 key activities from their strategic plan: 108 were fully implemented, 25 partially implemented, 26 were ongoing, and eight had yet to start.
“The government of Sierra Leone has made history by financing over 90 percent of the national elections for the first time,” said Konneh. He expressed gratitude towards the government for establishing the National Elections Sustainability Trust Fund which provided substantial funding without bureaucratic delays. According to Konneh, the multi-tier elections in 2023 met both international and national standards positively impacting female participation in elected positions.
He further noted that due to these achievements, Sierra Leone could serve as a model in electoral inclusion within its sub-region. The peaceful conduct of elections and timely announcement of results set new milestones for future elections.
In his remarks, President Bio thanked Konneh and all commissioners for their work on conducting what he referred to as “Saful elections.” He acknowledged voters' appreciation despite challenges faced during election periods globally.
Bio emphasized that democracy relies on trust in rule of law and respect for national institutions. Reflecting on his own experiences with past election disputes resolved through court decisions out of respect for democratic principles.
President Bio reaffirmed his commitment to upholding democracy in Sierra Leone by confirming no presidential elections would occur until 2028 while urging citizens to remain law-abiding focusing instead on national unity under initiatives like "Feed Salone."
For more information: State House Media and Communications Unit
info@statehouse.gov.sl
Alerts Sign-up