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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 04 FREETOWN 000079 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/02/2017 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM PHUM ELECTIONS SL
SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONE 2007 NATIONAL ELECTIONS: SETTING THE 
STAGE 
 
REF: 06 FREETOWN 776 
 
Classified By: Ambassador Thomas N. Hull for 
reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). 
 
¶1.  (U) This is the first in a series of cables intended to 
set the context for the July 28, 2007 Presidential and 
Parliamentary elections, only the fifth multiparty elections 
in Sierra Leone since its independence in 1961. Post welcomes 
any comments or suggestions. 
 
-------------------------------- 
POLITICAL PARTIES AND CANDIDATES 
-------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (U) Eight officially-registered political parties will 
contest the July 28, 2007 national elections. Candidates from 
the three main political parties, the ruling Sierra Leone 
Peoples Party (SLPP), and two opposition parties, the All 
Peoples Congress (APC), and the newest party, the Peoples 
Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC), will contest the 
presidential elections. They are Vice President Solomon 
Berewa for the SLPP, Parliamentarian Ernest Koroma 
representing the APC, and Charles Margai for the PMDC. 
Margai, who defected from the SLPP to form the PMDC after the 
September 2005 SLPP Party Convention, is the nephew and son 
of Sierra Leone's first post-independence prime ministers. 
None of the candidates has named a running mate. 
 
----------------- 
NEC LEADS THE WAY 
----------------- 
 
¶3.  (U) The National Electoral Commission (NEC), created in 
2000, is responsible for the conduct of national elections 
and is led by a very capable and respected Chairperson, Dr. 
Christiana Thorpe. UNDP is providing the NEC with financial, 
planning, technological, and logistical assistance. Recently, 
concerns have emerged about alleged internal improprieties, 
which Dr. Thorpe has talked about openly in the news media to 
keep the process transparent. 
 
¶4.  (C) Victor Angelo, Executive Representative of the 
Secretary General (ERSG) for the UN Integrated Office in 
 
SIPDIS 
Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL), recently told the Ambassador that he 
was concerned about allegations of embezzlement of funds by 
some NEC commissioners. Media reports stated that the NEC has 
launched an internal investigation. Angelo said that the 
allegations did not include Chairperson Thorpe. Angelo also 
said that the British would fund a financial controller 
position for the NEC to prevent possible improprieties. 
Thorpe held a press conference on January 30 where she stated 
that the results of an ongoing internal investigation would 
be delivered soon, but according to Angelo this is a separate 
investigation about possible staff wrongdoing. 
 
----------------- 
THE PLAYING FIELD 
----------------- 
 
¶5.  (U) Signing of Political Code of Conduct: On November 23, 
eight officially-registered political parties signed a 
political parties code of conduct pledging that their 
leaders, officials, candidates, members, agents, supporters, 
and representatives would adhere to existing electoral laws. 
Election law stipulates that the National Electoral 
Commission (NEC) prepare  a political party code of conduct. 
The NEC recruited the Political Parties Registration 
Commission (PPRC) to organize a workshop in October 2006 to 
seek input from political parties and civil society on 
language for the code. 
 
¶6.  (SBU) NEW PPRC Chairperson: Parliament recently swore in 
Justice Sydney Warne as the new Chairperson for the Political 
Parties Registration Commission (PPRC). Formed in 2005, the 
PPRC is responsible for the registration of all political 
parties in Sierra Leone. Lawyer Roland Ade Caesar had been 
the acting Chair following the resignation of retired Chief 
Justice Abdulai Timbo in August 2006 reportedly for health 
reasons. 
 
¶7.  (U) Return to Constituency-based Elections: On November 
30, Parliament approved the NEC's report to Parliament on the 
Electoral Constituency Boundaries Delimitation Process. The 
report, which NEC submitted to Parliament in August 2006, 
stipulates that parliamentary elections once again be 
constituency-based contests. Due to the lack of reliable 
 
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population data for delimitation and a lack of access to 
areas controlled by the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) 
during the 11-year civil war, Parliament passed a 
constitutional amendment before the 1996 and 2002 
parliamentary elections that changed elections from 
constituency-based to district block representation. 
 
¶8.  (SBU) It was anticipated that Parliament would ultimately 
approve the new constituency boundaries in advance of the 
next national elections anticipated for 2007. Nonetheless, 
there was considerable reluctance from SLPP Parliamentarians 
to approve the constituency report and recommendations 
because redistricting would automatically eliminate some SLPP 
members' seats. After five hours of contentious and often 
raucous debate, Parliament passed the measure 54-14 with 
three members abstaining. Members of Parliament will now be 
more accountable and representative of their constituencies 
after the election. Currently, many members of Parliament do 
not reside in the district that they represent, and residence 
requirements may become a campaign issue. The electoral 
campaigns are certain to become more personality-driven as a 
result. 
 
¶9.  (SBU) Constitutional Referendum: The GoSL also announced 
in late 2006 that it would hold a constitutional referendum 
on July 28, but has not clarified what amendments will be put 
to voters. The Office of the President issued a press release 
on October 24 stating that it had created a Constitutional 
Review Commission to review the 1991 Sierra Leone 
Constitution to recommend amendments. The Commission was 
officially launched on January 29 and will consist of 38 
members representing a cross-section of government and civil 
society. Most observers rightly feel that a constitutional 
referendum would unnecessarily complicate the national 
elections and that it would be better if it was held at a 
later date. NEC Chairperson Thorpe has said that the 
referendum will not take place this year, and major donors 
providing technical advice concur. President Kabbah, however, 
appears determined to have the referendum, setting up a 
possible confrontation. 
 
¶10.  (C) Voter Registration: Voter registration will be held 
from February 26 - March 18. The NEC has developed a voter 
registration operational plan and has recruited 266 
registration center monitors, who are not allowed to serve in 
their home districts to reduce political pressure on them. It 
is also in the process of hiring 12,000 election staff. 
However, there are serious concerns about how election 
monitors were selected, and if the selection process was fair 
and transparent. There are allegations that the selection 
process was not properly advertised and that some NEC 
commissioners manipulated the distribution of application 
forms. 
 
¶11.  (SBU) Vehicle Transportation Procurement: With voter 
registration less than one month away, the NEC will be 
hard-pressed to procure enough functioning vehicles to 
monitor voter registration and electoral activities. It has 
reportedly reached agreements with the Sierra Leone Police 
(SLP) and Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) to 
repair 35 RSLAF vehicles and 25 SLP vehicles. Nevertheless, 
the UN reports that the vehicle shortage is still critical. 
 
¶12.  (U) Funding Shortfall: There continues to be a funding 
shortfall of an estimated $3.7 million for the elections. 
Donors are funding the election through a "basket" for 
electoral support, in addition to the GoSL tranching out 
money quarterly. The Ministry of Finance is not fully funding 
the GoSL commitment this quarter, claiming insufficient 
revenues, which compounds the shortfall problem. Some think 
that this is a ploy to pressure the UN Peace Building 
Commission to release funds to Sierra Leone. USG assistance 
is not part of the "basket" of contributions, and is instead 
funneled from USAID through the National Democratic Institute 
(NDI) and International Foundation for Elections Support 
(IFES) to NGOs to provide assistance for voter education, 
local monitoring, and assistance to the PPRC.  USG assistance 
will also go towards municipal elections in 2008. 
 
¶13.  (C)  Security: Security preparations are ongoing. The 
Sierra Leone Police (SLP) will be responsible for elections 
security and will work closely with UN police (UNPOL) 
advisors, the UK Department for International Development 
(DFID), and UK Metropolitan Police to continue training its 
ranks in crowd control and other security measures. According 
to the SLP 2007 Presidential and Parliamentary Elections 
Security Plan, the SLP plans to deploy at every polling 
 
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location and will provide around the clock police coverage at 
NEC locations where voting materials are stored. 
 
¶14.  (C)  The UN Security Council has approved another ten 
police advisors and five military advisors for UNIOSIL. The 
British have added another eight police officers as advisors, 
who are being stationed upcountry to provide training and 
monitor the elections process. 
 
¶15.  (C)  Election Monitors: A Carter Center representative 
told PolOff January 30 that it looks likely that the Carter 
Center will send 6-8 long-term election observers to Sierra 
Leone.  He said that the Center was discussing funding with 
DFID and could possibly be on the ground in time for the 
voter registration period at the end of February. USG 
assistance will support local monitors while support from 
DFID will support international monitors. 
 
---------------------------- 
SLPP CONFIDENT ABOUT CHANCES 
---------------------------- 
 
¶16.  (C) SLPP presidential candidate Vice President Berewa is 
concentrating most of his time on the July 28 presidential 
election. In discussions with ruling party members, most 
express confidence that the SLPP will easily secure the 
necessary 55 percent needed for victory. Contributing to this 
confidence is the appearance that the opposition parties are 
in disarray due to legal issues and leadership struggles. 
Parliamentary elections may have a slightly different outcome 
as it appears that the SLPP majority may shrink significantly 
due to the approval of the constituency boundaries report by 
Parliament in November. 
 
------------------------------------- 
ALLEGATIONS OF POLITICAL INTIMIDATION 
------------------------------------- 
 
¶17.  (C) There continue to be allegations of political 
intimidation by the ruling SLPP against opposition parties, 
as previously reported reftel.  During a recent trip 
upcountry to Bo and Pujehun, community members reported to 
PolOff stories of political intimidation perpetrated by 
paramount chiefs loyal to the SLPP against PMDC supporters. 
Reports continue that the SLPP has "bought" the loyalty of 
many paramount chiefs. Paramount chiefs wield considerable 
influence and political parties must secure their approval to 
hold political rallies under the Public Order Act. A UN 
political advisor reported this week that during a recent 
trip to Bo, Pujehun, and Kenema, election stakeholders 
related similar stories of intimidation and SLPP 
inappropriate use of government resources. PMDC supporters 
are registering complaints with the NEC. The UN reported that 
the SLP has remained neutral. 
 
-------------------------- 
HINGA NORMAN TO JOIN PMDC? 
-------------------------- 
 
¶18.  (U) Sierra Leonean news media recently reported that 
former Internal Affairs Minister, Chief Hinga Norman, and 
other indictees of the Special Court for Sierra Leone, have 
deserted the SLPP to join the PMDC. The reports state that 
the PMDC claimed that Hinga Norman had signed a press 
statement conveying his support for the party.  A few local 
newspapers ran what appears to be a statement signed by 
Norman. The SLPP has refuted the story and stated that Norman 
would have notified the SLPP and resigned if it was his 
intention to leave the SLPP. Hinga Norman is currently in 
Senegal receiving medical attention. 
 
---------------- 
EMBASSY OUTREACH 
---------------- 
 
¶19.  (SBU) In November, Pampana Communications Productions 
launched a Krio-language play entitled, "Udat for Vot For?" 
with funding assistance from the Embassy's Democracy and 
Human Rights Fund. Designed to educate voters, the play's 
characters summarized electoral procedures using 
storytelling. All three major political parties - SLPP, PMDC 
and APC - were invited to speak at the launch. Only the APC 
accepted the invitation. Following the play, NEC Chairperson 
Christiana Thorpe led a discussion, which elicited 
considerable feedback. One point audience members emphasized 
was the need to more broadly promote the play to include 
rural communities during the electoral process. The play will 
 
FREETOWN 00000079  004 OF 004 
 
 
tour 25 towns, but additional funding is needed for further 
performances. 
 
¶20.  (U) On December 8, the Ambassador, USAID Country Program 
Manager, and NDI Country Director launched two voter 
education programs that will provide support to Sierra 
Leonean NGOs to design and promote civic education programs. 
NDI will implement both programs, which are funded by USAID 
and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) for $500,000. 
 
¶21.  (SBU) On December 18, USAID signed a cooperative 
agreement with the Consortium for Elections and Political 
Process Strengthening (CEPPS) to implement a two-year $2.2 
million electoral assistance program through NDI and the 
International Foundation for Electoral Support (IFES).  NDI 
and IFES are working with local NGOs and consortia to build 
institutional capacity to conduct and monitor registration 
and elections, promote voter education, strengthen civil 
society organizations, promote compliance with election laws, 
encourage conflict mitigation, and promote media 
responsibility. 
 
¶22.  (SBU) In his many speeches, radio interviews, and 
meetings with GoSL officials, the Ambassador continues to 
stress the importance that all elections be conducted fairly 
and freely, and that all political parties be given a level 
playing field upon which to compete. 
 
------- 
COMMENT 
------- 
 
¶23.  (SBU) Election stakeholders feel fairly confident that 
preparations for the July national elections are on track. 
Campaigning has taken center stage, although the NEC has not 
officially announced when political parties can begin 
campaigning, and the intensity of rhetoric between the 
parties continues to increase. Although the ruling SLPP has 
the power of incumbency, the PMDC, which has been referred to 
as the "child of the broken home of the SLPP," will attract 
some SLPP supporters. It now appears that the run-up to the 
elections will be fairly peaceful. However, there is concern 
about voters' reactions in the aftermath of the elections. It 
is relatively certain that there will be serious implications 
if voters feel that their voices were not heard and they 
perceive that the election results are not credible. END 
COMMENT. 
HULL