As Sierra Leone prepares for presidential, parliamentary and local elections scheduled for November 2012, many actors in civil society as well as the international community are concerned with the potential for electoral violence. With awareness as a powerful tool in mitigating this unfortunate trend, IFES and local civil society organizations have begun implementing initiatives to spread information about how to avoid and alleviate election violence.
In 2011, political violence first erupted on the national level in July when the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP) nominee and flag bearer, Brigadier Julius Maada Bio, was attacked during a speaking event. Bio’s entry into the electoral race was seen by many as a harbinger of electoral and political violence as he was part of the coups d’état that took place in 1992 and 1996, the first effectively overthrowing the government headed by All People’s Congress (APC). The attack during his speaking engagement, which took place in the town of Bo, was allegedly perpetrated by supporters of the APC, which is once again the ruling party. In the ensuing violence, one person was reported killed and 20 people suffered injuries. Several buildings were also burnt down, including the local APC party office.
That same month, in the town of Kono, young persons attacked the convoy escorting Minister of Internal Affairs Musa Tarawali by throwing stones. The attack, which allegedly led the Minister to order his bodyguards to disperse the crowd with gunfire, is said to have been initiated by APC supporters who perceived Tarawali to be a potential challenger to the incumbent vice president, who is from the Kono area.
As a result of the incidents in Bo and Kono, the Sierra Leone police banned all political party campaign activities until December 2011. Now that the ban has been officially lifted, IFES is implementing a program to support a peaceful environment for the upcoming elections.
Stressing the importance of a violence-free election is an important first step to keeping conflict at bay. IFES has partnered with a local communications agency to develop messages of non-violence. The goal is for these messages to bring awareness to Sierra Leoneans about how easily certain acts can spark violence and how to avoid engaging in these behaviors. Both television and radio spots will be broadcast across the entire country in each of the 14 districts.
Education is a powerful tool to increase awareness and self-control. Through these messages, which promote peaceful participation in the electoral process, it is hoped that Sierra Leoneans will be able to exercise their franchise without the risk of being attacked. Increased democratic participation in a peaceful environment will strengthen democracy and help consolidate peace in this recently war-torn country.