Freetown, August 1, 2023 On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, Fambul Tok International convened a dialogue session between Civil Society Organizations in Sierra Leone and the top leadership of the Security Sector at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Aberdeen, in Freetown. The dialogue aimed at providing a platform for frank discussions and stock-taking on lessons learned prior to, during, and after the country’s multi-tier elections. The statement delivered on behalf of the Security Sector by the National Security Coordinator (NSCoord), Office of National Security (ONS), Abdulai Caulker, sets the tone for the discussion.
It could be recalled that on June 24, 2023, Sierra Leone conducted her 5th post-conflict multi-tier elections, and His Excellency the President, Brig. Rtd. Dr. Julius Maada Bio of the Sierra Leone People’s Party, was declared the winner. Although the elections were hailed as free, fair, and transparent by the majority of National and International election Observers, the All People’s Congress (APC) raised several reservations regarding the Electoral Commission’s handling of aspects of the result management process. In addition, the Carter Center and the United States Government noted concerns about the undermining of the enabling environment to support the election process in the form of ‘‘death threats’’ against Election Observers. As a key guarantor of any election cycle, it is recognized that Election Observers should have a space to carry out their work freely. The credibility and success of the elections hinge on the protection of civil liberties for individuals and groups by the responsible State authorities.
Regarding the above, holding a dialogue session between Civil Society and the Security Sector to provide pathways to enhance frank discussion became imperative. The dialogue culminated in the signing of a communiqué between Civil Society and the Security Sector. The Communique is a product of a convening that was facilitated by the CSO Fambul Tok International, bringing together CSOs and the National Security Architecture in Sierra Leone to dialogue around the role the Security Sector plays in protecting civil liberties and providing remedies when they have been abused, especially in the post-election framework. The Security Sector plays a major role in maintaining peace and tranquility after highly contested elections such as the 2023 elections. In these elections especially, tensions were exacerbated by the extensive use of disinformation and misinformation on social media, which in certain instances may have reduced the sense of safety of certain groups and individuals during the election process.
It is against this backdrop that the dialogue was expected to create a forum for frank discussions about the role of the Security Sector in growing the civic space as a critical pathway to strengthening Sierra Leone’s hard-won democracy. The Convener, Fambul Tok International, adopted a methodology that brought the two parties—CSOs and the security sector—to dialogue around safeguarding the civic space in the election process as a first step to identifying recommendations to improve future elections cycles.
After detailed deliberations on a number of Thematic issues around CSOs engagements with elections in Sierra Leone (including Elections Observations), the following recommendations were adopted:
- CSOs should continue engagements across Sierra Leone in the National Security Architecture’s organs, the Chiefdom Security Committee (CHISEC), District Security Committee (DISEC), and Provincial Security Committee (PROSEC), and all their processes.
- Enhance CSO understanding of the National Security architecture through a dedicated Platform facilitated by the ONS.
- Security Sector to be proactive and facilitate timely investigations of all reported cases of threats of violence during political events, including but not limited to subnational and national elections.
- Security Sector to facilitate Public information and education during electoral cycles on the legal framework and the roles of election Observers in support of credible elections.
- Security Sector, CSOs, and the Public to ensure continued active condemnation of threats of violence against election management personnel, including election observers.
- The Security Sector should roll out Public awareness initiatives and remedies available to Citizens from the Sierra Leone Police and the other Security Sector entities to report cases of threats of violence, especially during electoral cycles in Sierra Leone.
- Ensure full application of policies that prevent Security Sector Actors from openly participating in politics, especially during election cycles.
- The reactivation of the Constitutional Review Process with a view to addressing the lacuna in the 1991 Constitution of Sierra Leone
- Security Sector to consider the establishment of Public complaint centers across the Country as well as ensure adequate mechanisms are in place for Witness protection.
- Capacity building should be facilitated by CSOs on Cyber Legislation, Cyber threats, and handling misinformation.
- Political Parties must be encouraged to work with and build Trust in election Management Bodies (EMBs).
- The State must endeavor, through the Security sector, to at all times ensure the Rule of Law is upheld.
- Political tolerance by State authorities to accept feedback and respect the views expressed by CSOs on Security and other National issues
- EMBs to facilitate timely and correct information sharing prior to, during, and after the elections in Sierra Leone.
The joint dialogue session between Civil Society and the Security Sector was climaxed by the signing of the communiqué, as outlined in the text above. The NSCoord and ONS signed on behalf of the Security sector, while CSO leaders signed on behalf of their colleagues in the five regions of Sierra Leone.
The signed communiqué and the Statement delivered by the NSCoord can be accessed through the ONS Website, www.ons.gov.sl.
