Both the president and the members of parliament are elected for fiveyear terms. Elections in sierra leone are held on a national level to elect the president and the unicameral parliament. Sierra leone eisa electoral institute for sustainable democracy. There are in sierra leone three spheres of government. Section 151 of the public elections act states, in part, that every person. Trafficking act 2005, the sierra leone citizenship amendment act 2006, the prevention and control of hivaids act 2007. The group notes that the public elections act 2012. Only four cases of overvoting were identified, and in these cases, results were annulled by the nec in accordance with the public elections act. These topic pages provide a quick overview and easy access to all content that can be found on ace for any give topic of interest weather encyclopaedia files, electoral materials, comparative data, consolidated replies, case studies, or other. November 17 presidential, parliamentary and local elections frequently asked questions page 5 of 5 resources political parties registration ommission ppr website national electoral ommission ne website public elections act of 2012 abridged. The election proves the strength and resilience of sierra leones democracy, and we look forward to working with president julius maada bio. The enactment of these laws has set the pace for the full. The aim of the concert is to promote peace and raise awareness about the public elections act of 2012. Section 18 of the public elections act 2012 in sierra leone states that nec may make arrangements for citizens outside the country to vote and that this is discretionary rather than mandatory.
The strategic options will be based upon an analysis of the public sector emerging from the civil war, and a longer period of deterioration and decline. On may 10, 2012 the sierra leone parliament enacted one of the most progressive legal aid laws in africa. Embassy of the united states of america press release. Its leader, incumbent president ernest bai koroma, won 58. According to the national disability act, the nec shall ensure that during elections, polling stations are made accessible to persons with. Sierralii provides free, unrestricted access to the primary and secondary legal materials of sierra leone. The general elections of 7th march elections are the fourth multiparty elections to be held in sierra leone, since the end of the decadelong civil war in 2002. A person is qualified to be registered to vote in elections if he she has attained during registration the age of 18 years or. The 17 november 2012 elections in sierra leone, being the third since the decadelong conflict ended in 2002, were an important benchmark, both for the consolidation of peace and as a means of demonstrating the maturity of political leadership and institutions. Nov 17, 2012 the report of the commonwealth observer group for the sierra leone national and local council elections, held 17 november 2012. Sierra leone presidential runoff election postponed by. To promote peace, the political parties registration commission pprcwhich had a. Further protection is found in the international convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.
The apc also won 67 of the 112 elected seats in parliament. Sierra leone has a multiparty system, with two or three strong parties both the president and the members of parliament are elected for fiveyear terms. Background information on the republic of sierra leone military force rslmf and the conflict in sierra leone in general dec. The question was how to carry out that mandate to mediate. Mcferson1 abstract gender inequality in sierra leone, after colonialism among the worst in subsaharan africa, has been heightened further by the civil war of 19922002which was related in part to the struggle for control of blood diamonds but also to longstanding. Under the public elections act, any electoral offences will be considered by the electoral offences court and investigated by the sierra leone police, and any challenge to the results of the presidential election should be filed with the supreme court within seven days of the official announcement of the results.
Any grievances related to the election must be resolved through sierra leones judiciary, in accordance with the rule of law. Local government is provided for by the local government act 2004, and not by the constitution. Local government act of sierra leone essay example. The carter center launched its election observation mission in september and observed the nov. Sierra leone has had three successful postwar elections. Sierra leone national and local council elections, 17. The electoral commission is created by the constitution of sierra leone and consists of the chief electoral commissioner who is also the. Following the conduct of the polls, the statements of the result of the poll were. In 2018, sierra leone conducted presidential and parliamentary elections resulting in a peaceful transfer of power from one political party to another, an important milestone in the countrys advance as a developing democracy. Home nec national electoral commission of sierra leone. Three legal documents govern voter registration in sierra leone. The purpose of this paper is to outline strategic options for the reform of the public sector. The public elections act abridged version, 2012 abridgement of the public elections act 2012. More information about sierra leone is available on the sierra leone page and from other department of state publications and other sources listed at the end of this fact sheet.
Sierra leone legal information institute free access to. Being an act to consolidate and amend the law on public elections, to make provision supplementary to sections 32 and 33 of the constitution of sierra leone with respect to the electoral commission and for other related matters. The joint communique signed in april 2009 must be fully implemented. Also section 29 of the sierra leone disability act emphasises voting right access for persons with disabilities.
Nov 16, 2012 the national electoral commission of sierra leone has scrapped a pioneering tactile voting system for blind and visually impaired people just days ahead of the national elections on saturday. The right to vote in the sierra leonean elections has so far been denied to all sierra leoneans who live outside of sierra leone. In line with usual practice, the secretarygeneral sent an assessment mission to sierra leone to evaluate the prevailing. The electoral commission for the purpose of public elections may divide sierra leone into wards and into subwards if necessary. The high court of sierra leone has today ordered an injunction on the conduct of the countrys presidential runoff election scheduled for 27 march 2018, after initially ruling that the high court of sierra leone has an unlimited jurisdiction to hear complaint made by mr ibrahim sorie koroma of the. Despite recommendations from international observers and a constitutional reform commission, the legal framework for the elections has not changed since the 2012 elections. O n saturday, sierra leone will hold its third presidential, parliamentary and local elections since civil war ended a decade ago.
National electoral commission of sierra leone home nec. The group was led by olara otunnu, former foreign prime minister of uganda, and comprised nine eminent persons in total. The power of public investment management 2 0 12 sierra leone. This list contains the names of persons qualified to be registered under section 28. Local government and rural development there are in sierra leone three spheres of government. To maintain that momentum and ensure that citizens remain confident in government and its ability to provide for the public good, usaid continues to support programs. There is no constitutional provision for local government and therefore the local government act 2004 provides the main legal framework for local councils. Sierra leones elections explained les roopanarine global. Sierra leone legal information institute sierralii, sierra leone pdf pdf. The high court of sierra leone has today ordered an injunction on the conduct of the countrys presidential runoff election scheduled for 27 march 2018, after initially ruling that the high court of sierra leone has an unlimited jurisdiction to hear complaint made by mr ibrahim sorie koroma of the ruling apc, against the national electoral. Being an act to ratify and confirm an agreement made for and on behalf of the government of the republic of sierra leone of the one part and by sierra rutile limited of the other part.
Enacted by the president and members of parliament in this present parliament assembled. General elections were held in sierra leone on 17 november 2012. An assessment of access to the electoral process for. Presidential elections in sierra leone united states. Sierra leone has a multiparty system, with two or three strong parties. Sierra leone is a constitutional parliamentary republic with three spheres of government. Local government discretion and accountability in sierra leone.
No one has ever been prosecuted for violent conduct during elections. Whether the establishment of district and chiefdom councils and the entire decentralization process have positively impacted the lives of the people of sierra leone are issues which experts in governance and development studies should look into the act of 2004 in 2004 a new local government act facilitated the resuscitation of elected local authorities by providing for the. Being an act to continue in existence the bank of sierra. All citizens of sierra leone have the right to vote and participate in elections. Sierra leone and the commonwealth chapter 3 the legal framework and election administration political structure legal framework the constitution the public elections act 2012 chapter 4 election campaign methods calendar issues environment gender chapter 5 the media chapter 6 voting, counting and tabulation background. The result was a sweeping victory for the ruling all peoples congress. Being an act to consolidate and amend the law on public elections, to make provision supplementary to sections 32 and 33 of tile constitution of sierra leone with respect to the electoral commission and for other related matters.
It will be held at the brima atuga mini stadium in the east end of freetown, from 12 p. We congratulate president ernest bai koroma on his reelection, and urge all parties to accept the results as representing the will of sierra leones voting public. The government has run out of cash, inflation is rising, unemployment remains chronically high, taxation base has declined. An assessment of access to the electoral process for persons.
Elections in sierra leone are held on a national level to elect the president and the unicameral. The parliament has 124 members, 112 elected through plurality vote in singlemember constituencies and 12 members. Local government of sierra leone commonwealth governance. An open source database of information on all sierra leone elections, including candidates, election types, election results, boundary delimitations, and news. Public elections act, 2012 provides the legal basis and a set of standards for the full and equal participation of pwd in public elections. Public elections act, 2012 sierra leone legal information. Sierra leone presidential runoff election postponed by high. Chiefs were not abolished and their powers not attacked.
In exercise of the powers confered upon it by sections 33 and 388 of the constitution of sierra leone, 1991 act no. Sierra leone scraps tactile voting system for elections. Background on carter center election observation mission in sierra leone. In exercise of the powers conferred on it by section 33 of the constitution of sierra leone, 1991 act no.
Public elections act, 2012 national electoral commission. Imf considers possible finance for sierra leone as economy goes into reverse sierra leone telegraph. Being an act to authorise expenditure from the consolidated fund for the services of sierra leone for the year 2019 and for other related matters. Section 151 of the public elections act states, in part, that every person who has attained the age of 18 years, or who will have. Sierra leone relies on significant amounts of foreign assistance from both bilateral and multilateral donors. The candidate of the opposition sierra leone peoples party slpp has been declared the winner of the march 31 sierra leone presidential runoff election. Sierra leones incumbent president ernest bai koroma has won the presidential election, the election commission has said. The united states congratulates the people of sierra leone on its peaceful presidential elections held on march 31. The bill provides for a mixed model of criminal and civil legal aid, from provision of legal information and mediation services through to representation in court, and supplied through a public private partnership of government, private sector.
Observing sierra leones november 2012 national elections. The public elections act 2012 public elections act. Elections scheduled for november in sierra leone were a major challenge for a country still coping with. In postwar sierra leone, 2006 2012 synopsis sierra leones contentious 2007 presidential and parliamentary elections threatened to spark violent conflicts across a country just recovering from brutal civil war. The compendium, according to chief justice abdulai charm, contains the relevant electoral and related laws which include the 1991 constitution of sierra leone, public order act 1965, high court. Republic of sierra leone, the commonwealth secretarygeneral, mr kamalesh sharma, constituted an observer group for the 17 november 2012 national and local council elections in sierra leone. Statement from nec chairperson on the conduct and result of the presidential elections held on 17th november 2012. In exercise of the powers confered on it by section 149 of the public elections act, 2012 act no 4 of 2012, the national electoral commission nec, after consultations with registered political parties and candidates. Nov 15, 2012 as sierra leone prepares for its third postwar presidential and parliamentary elections, what is at stake for the country. Local government is provided for by the local government act 2004, and not by the constitu. In 2012, 87% of the population voted in the election with koroma winning with 58% of the vote. Being an act to amend the antimoney laundering and combating of financing of terrorism act, 2012 and to provide for other related matters.
Pim in a donordependent postcon lict economy public disclosure authorized 93361 public disclosure authorized public disclosure authorized public disclosure authorized. They were the first elections sierra leone had organised itself. Sierra leone strategic options for public sector reform english abstract. In exercise of the powers confered on it by section 33 of the constitution of sierra leone, 1991 act no. Between 1991 and 2002 a brutal civil war infamous for its blood diamonds left thousands dead. Sierra leone strategic options for public sector reform. Rather, the powers they had acquired during the colonial period were further institutionalized e. Sierra leone relations the united states established diplomatic relations with sierra leone in 1961, following its independence from the united kingdom. Sierralii receives generous sponsorship from the open society foundations and osiwa.
Democracy, governance and human rights sierra leone u. This right is guaranteed by the 1991 constitution, the persons with disabilities act 2011 and the public elections act 2012. In exercise of the powers conferred upon it by sections 33 and 388 of the constitution of sierra leone, 1991 act no. Local government discretion and accountability in sierra leone benjamin edwards, serdar yilmaz and jamie boex 1. Apc loses in sierra leone as julius madaa bio officially. For the first time in the history of presidential elections in sierra leone, a woman was selected as. Articles 29 and 12 of crpd are particularly relevant for election related activities. Elections in sierra leone november 17 presidential. March 7, 2018 presidential and parliamentary elections in sierra leone 4 legal framework. Elections in sierra leone international foundation for. Free access to law supports the rule of law, access to justice and transparency. Sierra leone press release publication of election campaign calendar for ward 146 in the koinadugu district. Apc loses in sierra leone as julius madaa bio officially wins. An open source database of information on all sierra leone elections, including candidates, election types, election results, boundary delimitations, and news sierra leone election results for 2018, 2012, 2007, 2002, and 1996 presidential, parliamentary, mayor, district chairperson, councillor and village headman elections.
The sierra leone political parties act of 2002 stated that the pprc had the responsibility to mediate any conflicts or disputes between or among the leadership of any political party or between or among political parties. All political parties agreed to cooperate in preventing all forms of political incitement, provocation and intimidation that might encourage violence. Introduction sierra leone is a small west african country with approximately 6 million people. In the november 2012 elections voters choose 112 ordinary members of parliament from ten political parties.
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