The United States has raised concerns about alleged irregularities in the election results announced by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) on 24 June, 2023.
The ruling party led by then president Julius Maada Bio retained the presidential seat.
Meanwhile opposition parties also raised concerns over irregularities in the presidential election.
The United States in a statement on Friday said: “The United States continues to be concerned about irregularities in the election results announced by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL). Independent parallel vote tabulations and analyses by accredited national and international observation missions raise questions about the integrity of the official results. We call on the government to institute an independent, outside investigation of the elections process and integrate observer recommendations to improve the electoral modalities for future elections”.
“An investigation will restore public confidence in the election process. Election results must accurately reflect the votes cast on Election Day”, a statement released by State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller added.
“Free and fair elections are essential for any democracy. The government and political parties must commit to strengthening democratic institutions to better protect the rights and reflect the aspirations of the people of Sierra Leone”.