[{"bbox": [83, 104, 1147, 186], "category": "Text", "text": "An **Electoral Follow-up Mission (EU EFM)** took place in October 2021; it highlighted both the opportunity and need for critical and timely action towards the implementation of the 2018 Electoral Observation Mission recommendations to ensure credible, inclusive, transparent and peaceful elections."}, {"bbox": [83, 211, 1147, 319], "category": "Text", "text": "Whilst the context remains fragile it is also marked by **strong national ownership and a positive track record for democratic reforms**. Indeed, His Excellence President Julius Maada Bio won the elections with a progressive campaign agenda which made the electoral reforms, gender equality, decentralisation and repeal of the seditious libel, priority commitments of his government and he delivered what governments before him failed to do."}, {"bbox": [83, 344, 1147, 531], "category": "Text", "text": "Very important steps have been taken by the present administration to consolidate democracy. In July 2020, Sierra Leone abolished seditious libel, opening the space for freedom of expression and association. Seditious libel provisions had been in force since 1965 and were used by successive governments to clamp down on political opponents and muzzle or arrest journalists. Alongside the repeal bill, the Parliament also enacted the new Independent Media Commission (IMC) Act 2020 covering provisions for a stronger IMC and passed in June 2021 a Cybercrime Act which is regarded as inclusive of political parties and non-state actors' contributions and providing sufficient safeguards to freedom of speech and other human rights."}, {"bbox": [83, 555, 1147, 687], "category": "Text", "text": "Furthermore, in July 2021 ministers of cabinet approved the Gender Empowerment Bill for parliamentary debate. This bill, tabled in parliament in October aims at expanding both the political and economic spaces for women. In particular, the Bill proposes minimum 30% parliamentary seats for women in all districts. It is expected that commitment towards women participation in political and electoral processes will also be reflected in the on-going reviews of the Public Election Act and Political Parties Act."}, {"bbox": [83, 714, 1147, 849], "category": "Text", "text": "Also positively, in the course of 2021, the President reached out to CSOs and invited them to engage dialogue at the highest level on national issues related to governance and social cohesion. Since then, space for civil society engagement has been strengthened and some protracted controversial issues promoted by the government in the review of the decentralisation policy and legislation seeking to introduce non-partisan elections for local authorities have been withdrawn, another confidence building measure by the executive."}, {"bbox": [83, 874, 1147, 982], "category": "Text", "text": "In line with the key EOM recommendation to secure predictable financing for elections, the Government of Sierra Leone has increased budgetary allocation to the Electoral Commission and pledged to support the 2023 election process through a dedicated financial allocation under the **National Election Support Trust Fund (NEST)**, thereby providing some assurance that operations will be enabled for the elections to unfold peacefully and efficiently."}, {"bbox": [83, 1006, 1147, 1087], "category": "Text", "text": "Positively the government has also established in September 2021 a **multi-stakeholder Electoral Steering Committee (ESC)** with the aim to ensure coordination among all electoral stakeholders and monitor the management of significant electoral risks relating to financing, security, justice systems and operations."}, {"bbox": [83, 1112, 1147, 1194], "category": "Text", "text": "Finally, following the conduct of a **UN needs assessment mission** in March 2021 the UN Secretariat has consented to the deployment of technical and financial aid to the national electoral management bodies, the judiciary and the security sector to support the conduct of local, parliamentary and presidential elections in 2023."}, {"bbox": [101, 1238, 338, 1269], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2.2 Problem Analysis"}, {"bbox": [83, 1309, 1147, 1478], "category": "Text", "text": "Despite the 2018 democratic transition, the potential for political tensions between and within parties remains high. **Ethnic and regional political divides**, created during the country's tumultuous political history, continue to fuel conflict and **electoral violence** remain defining factors of Sierra Leonean politics. These tensions are related to the **highly polarised political landscape**, with the SLPP strongly affiliated with the south-eastern part of the country where Mende people are dominant whereas the APC has its powerbase in the north, with a strong concentration of the Temne and Limba ethnic groups."}, {"bbox": [83, 1503, 1147, 1585], "category": "Text", "text": "Tensions are also influenced by **intra-party dynamics and rivalries**. These mainly relate to the relations between the hardliners and the more moderate voices which see benefit in a cooperative attitude towards opposition and a more inclusive agenda."}, {"bbox": [83, 1610, 1147, 1665], "category": "Text", "text": "**Lack of inter as well as intra-party political dialogue** hinders the potential for peaceful resolution of disputes and cohesive policy making as well as political commitment towards electoral reforms. There is **lack of a robust political**"}, {"bbox": [1050, 1689, 1158, 1714], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 6 of 33"}]