By: Hafsatu Z Bangura
The Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) and the African Union have in a joint press release date 13th April 2023 deployed a joint Technical Pre-Election Fact-Finding Mission to Sierra Leone ahead of the general elections scheduled for 24th June 2023.
The three-day mission according to the press release was launched on the 12th of April 2023 under the Joint Technical Affairs, Peace and Security, and Ambassador Calixte Aristide MBARI, AU Head of Democracy, Elections and Constitutionalism.
During a courtesy call on His Excellency Julius Maada Bio, the President of the Republic of Sierra Leone, the joint mission informed the President that the Mission aims to hold consultations with the country’s political actors and stakeholders with a view to assessing the state of preparedness of the country for the elections, challenges being encountered and areas where further support would be required from ECOWAS and the AU to ensure the successful holding of the general elections.
The mission is expected to meet with all key political actors and stakeholders and the international community to identify gaps, and support efforts aimed at building the necessary consensus for a conducive environment to enable the conduct of a peaceful, credible election in Sierra Leone come 24th Elections.