People wait to cast their votes for the national elections at a polling station in Freetown, Sierra Leone, on June 24, 2023 

Freetown, Saturday, June 24 - amid a cost-of-living crisis, polling stations for the fiercely contested presidential, parliamentary, and municipal elections opened later than the 7 am scheduled time in the capital, Freetown. They were due to close at 5 pm local time, and vote-tallying commenced. Provisional results are expected within 48 hours, according to the information ministry. According to the Electoral Commission Sierra Leone website, some 4 million people registered to vote in 16 districts, with 11,832 polling stations. 13 Registered Political Parties. Both sides have called for calm.

The general election is the fifth since the country’s brutal civil war ended more than two decades ago.

Presidential candidates must secure 55 percent of valid votes for a first-round win to avoid a run-off. Voters will also elect members of parliament and local councils in a proportional representation system after a last-minute switch from a first-past-the-post system.

From the backdrop of the election on Saturday, though peaceful for the most part, instances of fraud, voter suppression, and electoral irregularities were observed and demonstrated the vulnerabilities in the election.

The main opposition APC also said their election representatives were attacked and intimidated.

In Video:

Council of Churches in Sierra Leone

Preliminary Statement from CCSL based on reports received from its Observers and Supervisors - 24th June 2023.

In the lead-up to the June 24 election, the United Kingdom, the United States, Ireland, Germany, France, and the European Union issued a joint press release reminding all political parties of their pledge to commit to nonviolence and to conduct themselves peacefully following reports of election-related violence.

Last August, riots left at least 27 civilians and six police officers dead as anti-government protests turn deadly.

Timeline:

Updated: June 25, 2023; 12:36 pm, EST

Millions of people had queued up outside polling centers well before 7 am when voting should have commenced.

The official results of the election will not be declared until all the votes are tallied.

Electoral Commission in a statement:

The Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone (ECSL) like to inform the public, Elections Stakeholders and Political Parties that the tallying of the 24 June 2023 Multitier Election Results will commence Sunday, 25 June 2023, in the respective Regional Tally Centres —Locations:

Political parties, interested national and international observers, and the media were invited to observe the tallying process — Time 8:00 am. Two (2) persons per institution (media, Domestic/International Observer) will be allowed only.

Western Area National Data Centre, 15 Industrial Estate, Wellington, Freetown

South Region ECSL Regional Office, Reservation Road, Bo City

East Region ECSL Regional Office, Reservation Road, Kenema City

North Region ECSL Regional Office, Azzolinni Highway, Makeni City

Northwest District Council Hall, Port Loko City

Joint Post-Election Press Statement by Ecowas and African Union Election Observation Missions To The 2023 General Elections in Sierra Leone

Sunday, June 25, 2023, police opened fire and teargas at the main opposition APC headquarters in Freetown as voters await the results of the fiercely contested general election.

The opposition’s presidential candidate Dr. Samura Wilson Kamara of All People’s Congress (APC) said on Twitter that live bullets had been fired at his office inside the party headquarters on Sunday.

According to an eyewitness, APC member Matron Mahawa Dumbuya was hit by a bullet inside the APC party office.

Yvonne Aki-Sawyerr (YAS), also, a prominent APC member bidding for a second term as Freetown mayor, tweeted photos from inside the building showing people taking cover on the floor.

“I am in the APC Party office and we are under fire,” she wrote.

Police, in a statement, said members of the APC had paraded through Freetown — announcing to the public that they had won the election.

They attracted a large gathering of supporters outside the headquarters, who started harassing passers-by, the force said. They had to fire tear gas canisters to disperse the crowd 'when the situation became unbearable.'

The Electoral Commission is yet to officially announce the June 24 general election results.

Statement from Dr. Samura Wilson Kamara - June 24, 2023, All Peoples Congress party (APC) Presidential Candidate.