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Sierra Leone |
POLITICS
President Ahmed Tejan Kabbah’s government officially
ended its term of office
in March this year.
The government has come under persistent pressure to
conduct elections
The chief protagonist in agitating for elections is an organisation known as Grassroots Awareness which claims to draw its membership from all walks of life in Sierra Leone. On 28 March 2001, members attempted to stage a demonstration but were refused permission when they applied for a permit at police headquarters in Freetown.
The so-called «coup plot»
As expected, the Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP) whose military wing has waged a decade-long war against successive governments, supported the stance taken by Grassroots Awareness. Unfortunately for that organisation, the day before the demonstration was due to take place, some Revolutionary United Front (RUF) members were caught at the Pademba Road Prison with letters the government claimed contained subversive material. Some members of Grassroots Awareness‘s executive were also caught with letters linking them with the RUF. The whole affair was termed a «coup plot» and Grassroots Awareness was prohibited from staging the demonstration (which they had threatened to stage even without the necessary permit). The executive members of Grassroots Awareness were later released without any charges. They accused the government of machinating a plot to prevent them from staging their demonstration. They stated: «The whole affair was politically motivated. The authorities knew that if we had carried out our demonstration, the people would have been aware that it was time to conduct elections. In 1996 we were in a war situation, but Sierra Leoneans, including the ruling Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), called for elections, and they took place. Why shouldn’t the same not happen now?».
The SLPP doesn’t want elections
Grassroots Awareness members state that the SLPP government is afraid of conducting elections «because they are afraid of losing». This view has been shared by leading politicians such as Abdul Rahman Kumafa of the Peoples Democratic Alliance (a newly-formed party), and John Benjamin of the National Unity Party. RUFP members have stated that even with the incarceration of their leader, Foday Sankoh, they would take part if elections were to be held. Political observers believe that with three-quarters of the country under RUF control, there is every likelihood that the RUF would be in a position to intimidate voters and thus stand a chance of winning.
The SLPP‘s popularity, on the other hand, has dwindled owing to its inability to end the war. Widespread corruption in the civil service (jokingly called the «evil service») and the hyperinflation which has prevailed in Sierra Leone, has, over the years, militated against the government. Critics blame Kabbah for Sierra Leone’s worsening situation. He is perceived to be someone who takes decisions which do not reflect current realities.
There was growing discontent among people in the east and north of the country. They felt abandoned by the government which they considered unable to liberate them from the barbaric rule of the RUF rebels. But with the recent agreement in Abuja, Nigeria, between the government and the RUF, UN troops have started deploying in some RUF-controlled areas in the north.
Challenges to the SLPP
Does President Kabbah’s SLPP stand any chance of winning the next elections? The greatest challenge is within the SLPP itself because there are two factions — the Kabbah faction and the Margai faction. Charles Margai who is currently Minister of Safety and Security was a contender for the SLPP leadership during the 1996 elections. He lost under circumstances he described as «mischievous». He is currently reported to be vying for the party leadership in the forthcoming elections. The party itself is generally perceived to be a «traditional party» of southerners. Both government and party are dominated by southerners. It will be very difficult for the party to garner support in the north and east, which also have their own traditional parties.
Critics believe that President Kabbah’s government may be aware of the odds stacked against it. That’s why they’ve clung to a section of the 1991 Constitution which gives the government in time of war, the power to extend its mandate for a period of not more than six months at any particular time. Critics even assert that the government might even capitalize on the ambiguity of this Section, to continuing staying in power on the pretext that there is a war going on. «Because after the first six months, the government can extend its term of office for another six months», says an executive member of Grassroots Awareness. However, there are those who believe that with Ahmad Tejan Kabbah’s leadership, the SLPP stands every chance of winning the next elections.
President Kabbah has stated with insistence that he prefers the elections to be conducted after peace has been restored. This would enable displaced persons to resettle in their own communities. The President seems to be enjoying the support of the Opposition in parliament as manifested in their overwhelming support on crucial national issues, debated in parliament. For instance, when the government presented the issue of extending their term of office before parliament, opposition members supported the government.
There is a ray of hope for Sierra Leoneans. The RUF met with the government in Abuja, Nigeria, on 2 May 2001. (The last time they’d met was in 1996). This, together with previous meetings to discuss peace proposals and the country’s political future, plus the on-going deployment of UN troops in RUF-controlled areas gives every indication that Sierra Leoneans will soon get a respite after a decade of civil strife.
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