Sierra Leone starts vote count

BALLOT counting was under way in Sierra Leone last night, a day after presidential and legislative elections seen as a test of whether the African nation has emerged from its bloody past.

Voters came out in droves to peacefully cast ballots on Saturday to choose a new leader to succeed President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah and a fresh set of lawmakers to fill the 112-seat parliament.

The contest was tight between the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP) party and the All People’s Congress (APC). After the first round, neither is tipped to win the absolute majority required.

Vice-President Solomon Berewa of the ruling SLPP is expected to face a stiff challenge from APC’s Ernest Koroma.

Early returns show APC, the one-time sole ruling party, ahead of SLPP.

The trend shows both parties dominated in their traditional strongholds, APC in the north and SLPP in the south. However the SLPP is being challenged by the People’s Movement for Democratic Change, its off-shoot party.

If none of the presidential hopefuls gets at least 55% of the ballots, the vote will go for a second round.

Fianna Fáil MEP Eoin Ryan was one of seven MEPS who observed the elections.

He said: “These elections were free and fair but there is still a tense political atmosphere in Freetown, the capital. In fact, police reinforcements were needed to oversee the closing of some polling stations.

“Ireland has played a very central role in these elections, having contributed €3 million to the electoral commission.”

Preliminary results are expected by the end of the week.