UK Secretary of State James Cleverly
The UK’s Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs, the Right Honourable James Cleverly (MP) says the British Government is taking a keen interest in ensuring Sierra Leone’s June 24 multi-tier elections are peaceful, free and fair and the outcomes reflect the true will of the people. Mr. Cleverly made this statement while responding to questions posed by the UK’s Foreign Affairs Committee Chairperson, Alicia Kearns (MP), based on complaints which are said to have originated from the main opposition All People’s Congress (APC).
Ms. Kearns wrote that opposition leaders in Sierra Leone have voiced concerns about the “independence of the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone, the conduct of the election campaign, the activities of the government security forces in restricting the ability of opposition leaders to travel and breaking up legitimate political gatherings with violence and detention without charge,” among others.
These concerns were then communicated in a letter addressed to Mr. Cleverly. Responding to the questions raised, Mr. Cleverly said he discussed these issues with President Bio and Dr. Samura Kamara during his visit to Sierra Leone in March. He said concerns regarding election preparations were also discussed with election management bodies (EMBs), the government and opposition parties.
He said “the UK, through the British High Commission in Freetown, holds regular, frank conversations with senior government interlocutors and other key stakeholders on issues of good governance, the rule of law and the importance of free, fair and peaceful elections.” He added that the stakeholders of these consultations included members of the opposition, election management bodies, and civil society organizations.
James Cleverly also said that, in addition to the deployment of diplomatic observers across Sierra Leone, the UK has launched a programme to support cross-community dialogue among voters in the country, with a strong focus on inclusion and violence prevention. He maintained that as the elections draw near, the UK will continue to work closely with the international community to consolidate and cross-check planning.
He concluded by saying that “the UK is taking a keen interest in the elections in Sierra Leone, and they are committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure the process is free, fair, credible and reflects the will of the people”.
