Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio has secured a second term in office, according to the country’s electoral officials. With 56.17% of the ballots cast, Bio narrowly surpassed the threshold required to avoid a runoff election.
The announcement was met with immediate dispute from the main opposition candidate, Samura Kamara, who received 41.16% of the vote. Kamara took to Twitter, describing it as a “sad day” and rejecting the outcome, claiming it was an attack on the nation’s democracy.
To secure victory in the first round and prevent a runoff, the leading candidate needed to obtain at least 55% of the vote.
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President Bio acknowledged his win in a tweet, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support and emphasizing the unity of Sierra Leoneans in their desire for national progress.
In the lead-up to the announcement, both parties’ supporters had declared victory. Kamara had earlier claimed an “irreversible path to an overwhelming victory.” He also alleged that security forces had fired live bullets during a celebration at his party’s headquarters, although the police denied the accusation.
President Bio, who defeated Kamara in the 2018 election, campaigned on promises to combat corruption and improve education. He has taken measures to address corruption and signed a significant women’s rights bill earlier this year.
However, widespread poverty and high youth unemployment have fueled protests due to the struggling economy. Nearly 60% of Sierra Leone’s population of over 7 million people face poverty, making it one of the highest rates in West Africa.
