Freetown, 23 July, 2023 / 11:22 am (ACI Africa).
Members of the Interreligious Council of Sierra Leone (IRCSL) are appealing to the citizens of the West African country to maintain calm as stakeholders work to resolve grievances relating to the country’s June 24 general elections.
Tension engulfed Sierra Leone shortly after President Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) was announced to have taken an early lead in the poll. Followers of Samura Kamara who closely followed Bio on the All People’s Congress (APC) ticket vowed to contest the results.
In a statement shared with ACI Africa on Friday, July 21, Archbishop Edward Tamba Charles who serves as the IRCSL President acknowledges the presented grievances concerning the elections and urges those aggrieved not to resort to actions that could plunge the country into disarray.
“The IRCSL wishes to note that certain grievances and complaints have been made during the electioneering process with regard to issues of transparency and accountability, victimization of political opponents, loss of lives and destruction of properties which are currently under discussion in order to find amicable solutions,” Archbishop Tamba Charles says.
He adds, “While active engagements have been initiated with key stakeholders to resolve all outstanding issues related to the electioneering process, the IRCSL would like to kindly appeal to all of us to be peaceful, compassionate and law-abiding.”
