Sierra Leone police issues stiff warning against electoral violence

The Sierra Leone Police Force (SLPF) and the Political Parties Registration Commission (PPRC) on Friday issued a jointly warning urging the seven registered political parties and their supporters to desist from electoral violence ahead of the August 11 general and presidential elections, APA learnt here.

“The act of electoral violence and thuggery will not be accepted by the police and the PPRC as we seek to oversee free, fair and transparent elections come August 11,” the deputy police media relations officer said in a statement.

Ibrahim Samura insisted that “the SLPF and the PPRC are ready to deal firmly with any party that engages in political violence”.

The warning comes in the wake of numerous cases of violent confrontations between supporters of the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) and its two main rivals the All People’s Congress (APC) and the People’s Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC).

The worse encounters have been reported in the eastern town of Kailahun over the last weekend where gunshots injured several persons during a campaign and in the southern Pujehun district.

The opposition seems determined to withdraw power from the incumbent SLPP which for its part is determined to stay on, after 11 years in office.

Sierra Leone police issues stiff warning against electoral violence