In a few days - March 7, 2018, to be precise, the people of Sierra Leone will go to the polls to elect a new president, members of parliament and local council representatives. These elections will be the fourth since the end of the civil war in 2002, and return to constitutional democratic process. These elections will provide an opportunity for the country to reinforce gains made in its multiparty democracy. Towards the polling day, the West Africa Election Observers Network (WAEON) encourages the people of Sierra Leone to remain resolute in their quest for peaceful, free, fair and credible elections. WAEON urges the National Electoral Commission (NEC) to act impartial and professionally during the elections. Political parties and their supporters are also urged to abide by the electoral laws and remain peaceful at all times during the days leading to the polls, on the polling day and during the post-election phase. WAEON encourages civil society groups observing the electoral process, particularly its member organization, the National Election Watch (NEW), to be guided by the Declaration of Global Principles for Non-partisan Election Observation, and remain independent, neutral, impartial, and objective throughout the process. WAEON finally entreats the media, and indeed all stakeholders to be circumspect in their actions and support a peaceful electoral process to its conclusion.
The West Africa Election Observers Network (WAEON) is collaborating with the Washington DC-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) to participate in the upcoming general elections in Liberia, scheduled for October 10, 2017. Through NDI, WAEON will contribute to NDI International Observation Mission for the elections.
