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| Sierra Leone election: Julius Maada Bio re-elected as opposition cries foul | Sierra Leone election: Julius Maada Bio re-elected as opposition cries foul |
| (about 13 hours later) | |
| Julius Maada Bio, a retired soldier, was first elected in 2018 | Julius Maada Bio, a retired soldier, was first elected in 2018 |
| Incumbent Julius Maada Bio has been declared the winner of Sierra Leone's presidential election but the opposition has disputed the count. | Incumbent Julius Maada Bio has been declared the winner of Sierra Leone's presidential election but the opposition has disputed the count. |
| Official figures give Mr Bio 56% of the vote. His main rival, Samura Kamara, trailed far behind with 41%. | Official figures give Mr Bio 56% of the vote. His main rival, Samura Kamara, trailed far behind with 41%. |
| A candidate needs more than 55% for outright victory and avoid a second round. | |
| After the first tranche of results were released on Monday, Dr Kamara called the outcome "daylight robbery". | After the first tranche of results were released on Monday, Dr Kamara called the outcome "daylight robbery". |
| International election observers have highlighted problems with transparency in the tallying process. | International election observers have highlighted problems with transparency in the tallying process. |
| Saturday's vote took place amid tension but President Bio had called on Sierra Leoneans to "keep the peace". | Saturday's vote took place amid tension but President Bio had called on Sierra Leoneans to "keep the peace". |
| The 59-year-old, a former soldier, was sworn in for his second and final five-year term later on Tuesday night. | |
| The retired army brigadier took part in a military coup during the country's civil war in 1992, only to overthrow the military junta itself in 1996 and pave the way for free elections that year. | The retired army brigadier took part in a military coup during the country's civil war in 1992, only to overthrow the military junta itself in 1996 and pave the way for free elections that year. |
| Scenes of celebration have been reported in the capital, Freetown, with Mr Bio's supporters hoisting his banner and marching across the wet streets of the city. | Scenes of celebration have been reported in the capital, Freetown, with Mr Bio's supporters hoisting his banner and marching across the wet streets of the city. |
| The rivalry between him and Dr Kamara, 72, was a repeat of the closely fought 2018 election, which went to a second round. | The rivalry between him and Dr Kamara, 72, was a repeat of the closely fought 2018 election, which went to a second round. |
| This time Dr Kamara, who was the candidate for the All People's Congress (APC), has alleged that his electoral agents were not allowed to verify the ballot counting. | This time Dr Kamara, who was the candidate for the All People's Congress (APC), has alleged that his electoral agents were not allowed to verify the ballot counting. |
| In the run-up to the vote, the APC had made complaints about the electoral commission. However, the commission insisted that it had mechanisms in place to ensure a fair vote. | In the run-up to the vote, the APC had made complaints about the electoral commission. However, the commission insisted that it had mechanisms in place to ensure a fair vote. |
| The presidential, parliamentary and local council elections came at the end of a campaign marred by several violent incidents. | The presidential, parliamentary and local council elections came at the end of a campaign marred by several violent incidents. |
| Last week, the APC alleged that one of its supporters was shot dead by police, which the police denied. | Last week, the APC alleged that one of its supporters was shot dead by police, which the police denied. |
| The party has said that another one of its backers was killed when security forces tried to break up the crowd at its headquarters in Freetown on Sunday. | The party has said that another one of its backers was killed when security forces tried to break up the crowd at its headquarters in Freetown on Sunday. |
| Members of Mr Bio's party, the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), have said they were attacked by opponents during campaigning. | Members of Mr Bio's party, the Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP), have said they were attacked by opponents during campaigning. |
| The campaign took place against a backdrop of a troubled economy, the rising cost of living and concerns about national unity. | The campaign took place against a backdrop of a troubled economy, the rising cost of living and concerns about national unity. |
| Mr Bio, who blamed the country's woes on external factors such as the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, now has the task of solving these problems. | Mr Bio, who blamed the country's woes on external factors such as the coronavirus pandemic and the war in Ukraine, now has the task of solving these problems. |
| The election is the fifth since Sierra Leone's 11-year civil war officially ended in 2002. It was a particularly brutal conflict, with 50,000 deaths and thousands of people estimated to have had their arms and limbs amputated. | The election is the fifth since Sierra Leone's 11-year civil war officially ended in 2002. It was a particularly brutal conflict, with 50,000 deaths and thousands of people estimated to have had their arms and limbs amputated. |
| But since then the country has had a tradition of largely peaceful, free and credible elections, according to Marcella Samba Sesay, chairperson of the non-governmental organisation National Elections Watch. | But since then the country has had a tradition of largely peaceful, free and credible elections, according to Marcella Samba Sesay, chairperson of the non-governmental organisation National Elections Watch. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Sierra Leone | Sierra Leone |