In a release issued last weekend, the main opposition party, the APC, directed its newly elected members of Parliament and Local Councils not to attend any function of the current government. The party also called on the international community to implement certain measures aimed at constraining the operations of the government.
According to the APC release, they envisage sanctions against the government, which should include travel bans on both the first and second families of the Republic, top government officials, like the Inspector General of Police, the ECSL Commissioners, whose resignation they called for, and all ministers of governments and their families.
As things stand, it is possible that some of their demands might be addressed, especially as the entire international community seemed to be frowning at the conduct of the elections. With particular reference to transparency in the tabulation process. It could be recalled that almost all the international observers of the elections have called on the ECSL to publish the disaggregated elections results by polling station, and the Commission is yet to comply. Some local observers have also followed suit.
Unfortunately, while supporters of the Bio regime have dismissed the calls as interference in their domestic politics, it should be noted that Sierra Leone is a donor driven economy, and international partners are depended on for most of the development programs of the country. There are suggestions and fears among Sierra Leoneans that should the international community impose sanctions other than travel bans, the economic situation will be worse, as the prices of commodities will skyrocket, and the cost of living will be most unbearable and could lead to unrest.
As things stand, the fate of the country seems to hang in a balance, as there is no indication of what the international community will do when their observers report to their respective governments. It is unequivocal that the developed world is determine to ensure that democratic principles are maintained across Africa, and any failure to maintain it in Sierra Leone has far wider implications for the other African countries who will be holding elections this year. Sierra Leoneans are holding their breath, waiting for what will happen next.
