This is because all Western Nations have the same democratic principles, policies, and way of life. A touch on one Western Country is a touch on all Western Nations. That is why keen political observers have no scepticism in their DNA that the EU Final Report on the fraudulent June 24, 2023, general and presidential elections in Sierra Leone has been supported in its entirety because of the significance of the EU Report. “We work together to defend democracy around the world,” a top Western diplomat confided. It is true that the twenty-seven nations in the European Union, an economic and political power, personally released the EU Final Report but it should not be misconstrued as the policy of the EU alone. Sources say the historic document that exposed the fraudulent SLPP regime’s electoral processes, was first endorsed by the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, etc. before it was made public to Sierra Leone’s audience. “We work together,” a top Western diplomat confided. (Photo: EU rep Mr Manuel, EU Observer Chief Evin Incir, right).

The EU operates a single market that allows the free movement of people, goods, and capital among others between member states. In Sierra Leone and Sierra Leone communities around the world, some Sierra Leoneans still think the recently released EU Final Result bombshell is the stance for only the European Union. That is far from the truth which makes it even more important for the eventual restoration of the people’s mandate in Sierra Leone. Western diplomats have no illusion where their loyalty lies. This is obviously very bad news for the autocratic SLPP regime of Julius Maada Bio, the usurper of Sierra Leone. Seizing power without democratic authority is a thing of the past but sadly, the Bio thugs still think this is the 80s or 90s era when military coups and civilian coups were prominent. No More Mr Usurper Bio. The majority of Sierra Leoneans, the real sufferers of the mayhem socio-economic hardship violence, and extra-judicial killings of the innocents, are fully in support of the EU Final Report.

“We work together to defend democracy,” a top Western diplomat confided. We still remember when the US started the ball rolling in terms of travel bans, and financial and property confiscation, followed by UK’s Dfid withholding funds and grants from Sierra Leone. It is interesting to note that the Dialogue ended even before it began thanks to the EU’s frank Report on June 24 Elections. The blunt Final Report released by the EU on the June 24 elections on October 10 was no mistake. It was no coincidence that the EU released it just a few days before the Dialogue to start on October 16 to the 18th, 2023 between the APC party and the ECSL/SLPP regime of Maada Bio. It was deliberate, systematic, and well-timed by the European Community to release their Final Report. What the EU concluded in its report will more certainly be the same conclusion the international community will arrive at after the Dialogue. These Westerners work together in a democracy. Below is an excerpt from the EU Final Report thus –

Citizen and International Observation

Citizen observation offered an independent assessment of the electoral process. Citizen observers and faith-based organisations monitored different aspects and stages of the electoral process and issued timely reports, offering voters a non-partisan assessment of elections. In total, the ECSL accredited some 25,000 domestic and 1,000 international observers, as well as 2,500 journalists. The two largest domestic observer groups, the National Election Watch (NEW) and the Elections Observer Network (EON) observers covered all 3,630 polling centres each. The NEW also conducted a parallel vote tabulation based on a sample of results from 750 polling centres. International observer groups included the African Union, ECOWAS, the Commonwealth, and the Carter Center.

Voting, Counting, and Tabulation

Peaceful and orderly conduct of the polls was marred by late opening, violence, and intimidation in several districts. The EU EOM observers assessed the atmosphere during the opening as calm but disorganised. The opening was delayed in nearly all polling stations visited, due to the late reception of essential and sensitive material, as well as owing to the lack of preparedness of, or insufficient number of polling staff. The longest delays were reported in Kono and Western Urban Freetown. The EU EOM observers negatively assessed the opening in 19 out of 43 polling stations observed in all 16 districts. Polling took place in a largely peaceful and calm atmosphere with a few instances of unrest inside polling stations in Port Loko (4), Western Urban (4), Tonkalili (1), and Kambia (1). Throughout the day long queues were observed in 40 per cent out of the 353 polling stations observed. Essential materials were missing in 21 polling stations observed, mainly material transfer and result and reconciliation forms. In 67 polling stations visited, the layout did not always ensure the secrecy of the vote. Over half of polling stations were not accessible to persons with reduced mobility. The overall conduct of the polling was assessed as good or very good in 92 percent of the polling stations observed, with procedures mostly followed except for the verification of voters’ fingers for ink marks. Polling was ended early in two polling stations due to a lack of availability of ballots. Overall closing and counting were conducted transparently and calmly. However, in three cases the EU EOM observers could not finish the observation of counting due to the rising tensions. In total 10 polling stations closed after the designated time due to long queues. In two other cases, polling was officially extended to compensate for the late opening, contrary to the ECSL instructions. Contradictory instructions on the extension of polling were observed by the EU EOM during ECSL’s cascade training. Counting procedures were largely followed, although the sequence for processing different elections varied. In 13 cases polling staff had difficulties filling the result forms, but figures mostly reconciled. In most cases, the electronic transmission of results from polling stations was not observed, due to either malfunctioning of the tablet or lack of internet connection.

The repatriation plan of results from the polling stations was not shared with EU EOM observers in most districts. The reception of materials and early stages of tabulation were slow, and procedural omissions were observed. The process thus far was assessed by EU EOM observers as generally lacking transparency with meaningful observation of critical stages being impeded. During voting, closing, and counting party agents from SLPP and APC, were present in nearly all observed polling stations, with the exception of Pujehun, where APC agents were present only in 17 percent of polling stations visited. Citizen observers, primarily NEW and EON, were less in 50 percent and 25 percent of visited polling stations. The EU EOM directly observed violence and unrest inside nine polling stations during voting or closing and counting, while unrest was directly witnessed in three tally centres. One team in Kono and one team in Kenema were obstructed from voting, while another one was not allowed to enter a polling station in Kono. Further confirmed incidents included a burnt down of a house of the APC parliamentary candidate in Bonthe and the evacuation of APC agents from Pujehun due to threats The EU EOM observers saw the SLPP chief campaigner was bussing Sierra Leonean voters residing in Guinea into Kambia. The ECSL reported intimidation of election staff and destruction of voter registers in several polling stations. Intimidation and violent incidents were reported by police, media, citizens, and international observers in six districts; live ammunition was fired in Port Loko, Freetown, and Koinadugu, creating insecurities for voters and poll workers alike. On election day the ECSL held one press conference. The reasons for the delayed opening were not comprehensively explained. Preliminary turnout figures were not announced.