Sierra Leone: Once More With Feeling

SIERRA LEONE

Once More, With Feeling

A coalition government looks to be likely in Sierra Leone, as well. But first voters will head to the ballot box for a run-off election to see who will be the country’s next president.

The Chief Electoral Commissioner said Tuesday that a run-off vote will be held March 27 between Samura Kamara of the ruling All People’s Congress (APC) and Julius Maada Bio of the opposition Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP), the Sierra Leone Telegraph reported.

In the first round, Kamara won 42.7 percent of the vote, and Bio took 43.5 percent. But the country’s electoral rules mandate a run-off if no candidate wins 55 percent of the vote.

The result lays the groundwork for a coalition government that depends on the National Grand Coalition (NGC) and at least one other smaller party – which the paper suggests makes an SLPP-led government likely and also presents encouraging signs for the country’s struggle against corruption and internal strife.