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Candidates who lost to Sierra Leone's incumbent President Ahmad Tejan
Kabbah in last week's election are conceding defeat and indicating they will
not contest the vote, despite what they say were irregularities in the
balloting. Meanwhile, analysts say the President faces major post-war
challenges in his second term.
Ahmad Tejan Kabbah won wide support, many say, because of his role in
ending Sierra Leone's brutal 10-year civil war four months ago. Among other
things, Sierra Leoneans credit Mr. Kabbah with allowing U.N. peacekeepers and
British troops to deploy in the country. He also developed a reputation for
making what some say were necessary concessions to the rebels.
Among the first candidates to concede was Pallo Bangura, of the
former rebel group's Revolutionary United Front Party (RUFP). "[At] the stage
where we are, what is important is for us to search for whatever mistake has
been made, whatever deficiencies there may have been," said Mr. Bangura. "We
should move on and then correct them so that next time around they won't be
repeated. The most important is for us as a nation to stick together and move
on."
Final results released by Sierra Leone's National Electoral
Commission Sunday showed President Kabbah and his Sierra Leone People's Party
won by a landslide, with more than 70 percent of the vote.
In second place was Ernest Koroma of the All People's Congress Party,
who received 22 percent. In his concession speech Sunday, Mr. Koroma said he
believes there were some irregularities in the vote. But like Mr. Bangura, Mr.
Koroma said that in the interest of peace, he will not contest the
vote.
The RUFP came a distant fourth, with less than two percent of the
vote. Analysts say the low support for the former rebel group reflects the
Sierra Leonean's people desire for peace. Many in Freetown and throughout
Sierra Leone resent the rebels for the atrocities they committed against
civilians during the 10-year war.
Sierra Leone is in many respects a different country today than it
was before the war. Freedom of the press has increased, with newspapers now at
liberty to criticize government officials without fear of retribution. There is
no longer a one-party system. The elections last week drew the participation of
nine parties.
But some worry not enough has changed. Freetown history professor and
author Ibrahim Abdullah has written extensively about the root causes of the
Sierra Leonean civil war. He says the conflict was rooted in the frustrations
of young people who had no opportunities. He said he wonders whether the
political class has learned any lessons from the war.
"By and large, the [problem] of a large number of young men and women
out there without a job, is still a factor," said Mr. Abdullah. "If that
question is not addressed, I am of the view that the crisis will linger on, but
in a different coloration. We won't have what we had, but that aspect will keep
driving the politicians back to the wall."
Mr. Abdullah said he believes the government should start using
the millions of dollars it is receiving in aid to help average young Sierra
Leoneans - not just those who are former combatants.
President Kabbah's second inauguration was held shortly after his
victory was announced Sunday. In his inaugural speech, the president called on
all Sierra Leoneans to unite behind him to fight against hunger and
corruption.
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