Statement by the RC at the Inauguration of the Independent cross-party “Committee on Electoral Systems and Management Bodies review”

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, 

I am honored to be here today, on behalf of the United Nations, at this official launch by His Excellency, President Julius Maada Bio, of the “Independent cross-party committee on electoral systems and management bodies review”, which is one of the provisions of the “Agreement for National Unity”, signed on 18 October 2023, between the government and the All People’s Congress (APC).

The promotion of unity and national cohesion is very important after a very divisive electoral campaign and an equally divisive post-election period. We should commend the step made by the opposition party to return to governance and we should commend H.E. the President for the commitment made in his national address of 24 October 2023 to give the “highest consideration to the implementation of the Agreement”.

As stated by H.E., the President, in his address to the nation, “reviewing the electoral system is critical to strengthening Sierra Leone’s democracy”.  Indeed, the intended examination of the electoral systems, structures, and processes that will be conducted by this Committee, once coupled with impactful electoral reforms, will help to further strengthen institutions and sustain democratic governance in Sierra Leone.

The United Nations has committed to supporting the implementation of the “Agreement for National Unity”, in response to the request of both H.E. the President and APC, by 1. representing the development partners in the three-way leadership of the “independent cross-party committee on electoral systems and management bodies review”, 2. participating in the team of “Moral Guarantors”, and 3. providing the requisite technical assistance to the implementation of the cross-party Committee’s recommendations, in collaboration with our Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs, and Electoral Assistance Division, under the leadership of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General for West Africa and The Sahel.

As we welcome the inauguration of the Committee today, we also look forward to the full implementation of the ‘Agreement for National Unity’, including the establishment of the inter-party dialogue framework, the return of the people displaced due to political violence to their communities; the release of individuals as agreed by both government and opposition; and the isolation of any individual who continues to incite violence and hate speech.

To this end, I would like to take this opportunity to call on both the ruling and opposition parties to jointly contribute to continue to diffuse tensions in communities across the country, preaching cohesion and unity and explicitly and consistently countering divisive ethno-regional discourse and hate speech that has prevailed during the electoral period and beyond; and, continue to keep the spirit of the ‘Agreement for National Unity’ alive.

Thank you for your kind attention.