Politics

Ruling SLPP wins majority seats in Sierra Leone’s parliament

Published

1 year ago

July 2, 2023

Sierra Leone’s electoral commission has released the results of parliamentary elections held last week, with the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) maintaining its majority.

The commission’s chairman, Mohamed Kenewui Konneh, while announcing the results, said the SLPP won 60% of the seats in the parliamentary election, that is 81 seats, while the opposition All People’s Congress won 54 seats.

According to the results, the ruling party significantly improved in Kono, an area famous for its abundance of diamonds, obtaining seven out of ten seats there, while they had none before. The party also gained ground in the north and west, particularly in the opposition’s stronghold of Freetown.

The electoral body had announced President Bio re-elected with 56% of the vote, narrowly avoiding a run-off which could have been if none of the candidates secured 55% of the votes cast.

However, the APC, which had previously stated that it had decided to reject the results of the June 24 general election due to “glaring irregularities,” maintained control of the significant Freetown mayorship with 51.3% of the vote.

International observers expressed concerns over the lack of transparency in the result tabulation process, as well as the fact that voting was significantly hindered in some areas due to substantial logistical issues.

But the government through the Minister of Information, Mohamed Rahman Swaray, had dismissed the opposition party’s position and the indicting reports by the observers.

Related Topics:Election Featured President Bio Sierra Leone

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.