AU Begins Mediation In Sierra Leone Election Saga

The Africa Union (AU) has begun processes to facilitate cohesion between the ruling government and the main opposition party, the All People’s Congress (APC).

It will be mediating together with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Commonwealth.

The tripartite Committee led by Her Excellency, Aja Fatoumata C.M Jallow-Tambajang, the former Vice President of The Gambia, is currently in Sierra Leone and begins the processes on Monday, October 16.

While calling on the parties to take advantage of the mediation process to discuss openly and frankly to find a lasting solution to the issues at stake, the AU urged the parties to refrain from inflammatory statements in the media that could jeopardize the mediation process.

They will complete the process on Wednesday, October 18, 2023.

The opposition party led by Samura Kamara rejected the outcome of the country’s June 24 elections results citing “glaring irregularities and violations of established electoral procedures”- a view shared by the European election observers who say there were statistical inconsistencies, Reuters reports.

They have also called for a rerun of the election, however, the government is reluctant and says a rerun can be sanctioned by only the Supreme Court.