What comes next?

Posted in News by AGavin on August 15th, 2007

Sierra Leone. The big question that is plaguing my mind, and I hope yours, is whether or not the elections which have just taken place were fair and legal. An article from ABC News  has portrayed the situation just right. According to European Union, most of Africa, and many other international observers, the elections have met the proper standards to be considered free and fair. The elections were overseen by more than 100 local civic and non-governmental organizations who kept close watch by fielding 5,400 observers. A country which was in civil war only five years ago has made a giant leap towards the better. 

Still, there has been much backlash from the top two frontrunners, the Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and the All People’s Congress (APC), as they accuse each other of using intimidation and rigging practices to sway the election in their way. The SLPP even claimed that some of their members were physically attacked. 

So what should you and I believe? Well as more information begins to be revealed, we will have a better idea of what is exactly going on. Until then we can at least be happy knowing that even if the elections did exhibit some corruption, Sierra Leone is taking steps forward. It is fine for a country to progress slowly, as long as there is some progression.