VZCZCXRO9022
OO RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0481/01 2251744
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
O 131744Z AUG 07
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 1273
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 FREETOWN 000481 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
SENSITIVE 
 
DEPT FOR AF/W, INR/AA (BGRAVES) 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: PREL PGOV KDEM SL
SUBJECT: SIERRA LEONEANS ENTHUSIASTICALLY VOTE IN PEACEFUL 
ELECTIONS 
 
REF: FREETOWN 479 
 
SUMMARY 
------- 
¶1. (SBU) On August 11, Sierra Leone conducted successful 
presidential and parliamentary elections. As of late evening 
on August 12, preliminary partial unofficial results showed 
the All People's Congress (APC) leading with nearly 45 
percent of the presidential vote followed by the ruling 
Sierra Leone People's Party (SLPP) with nearly 40 percent. 
The People's Movement for Democratic Change (PMDC) was in 
third place with 10 percent of the vote. Voters came out en 
masse to vote lining up at polling centers as early as 0300 
hrs. Many voting centers opened late due to the delayed 
delivery of ballot boxes; however, all voters were 
accommodated by the close of polls at 1700 hrs. The elections 
were peaceful and voters showed great enthusiasm while 
waiting in line to vote. Fortunately, the weather cooperated, 
which likely increasing voter turnout. There were minimal 
incidents of violence, and international observers commended 
the National Electoral Commission (NEC) for effectively 
managing elections operations. Initials results indicate it 
is likely there will a presidential runoff election between 
the APC and SLPP. END SUMMARY. 
 
SIERRA LEONE HOLDS PEACEFUL ELECTIONS 
------------------------------------- 
¶2. (SBU) Correcting many of the problems experienced during 
the 2002 national elections, Sierra Leone successfully 
conducted national elections in over 6,000 polling stations 
on August 11. The elections, the second national elections 
since the end of the decade-long civil war in 2002, and the 
first since peacekeepers departed in December 2005, were 
peaceful by all accounts and deemed a success by the 
international community. 
 
PARTIAL RESULTS SHOW SLIGHT APC LEAD, RUNOFF LIKELY 
--------------------------------------------- ------ 
¶3. (SBU) Preliminary partial unofficial results as of late 
evening on August 12 showed the APC in the lead in the 
presidential race with 45 percent of the vote followed by the 
ruling SLPP with 40 percent and the PMDC gaining 10 percent. 
It looks likely there will be a presidential runoff election 
between the SLPP and APC. That election, if necessary, would 
be held around September 8. 
 
NEC OFFICIALS PERFORM WELL 
-------------------------- 
¶4. (SBU) International observers generally agreed that NEC 
polling officials effectively managed most voting centers. 
Polling officials worked feverishly to move voters through 
long lines and by midday, most voters had cast their ballots. 
There were slight delays in opening many voting centers when 
ballot boxes were delivered late, due to a last minute 
decision to distribute ballot boxes early on the morning on 
August 11 after torrential rains the day before had caused 
delays. At voting centers monitored by Embassy staff, polling 
officials acted professionally and welcomed the many 
international and domestic elections observers present at the 
polls. 
 
VOTERS CAST VOTES PEACEFULLY, EXPERIENCE SMALL DISRUPTIONS 
--------------------------------------------- ------------- 
¶5. (SBU) Overall, voters were enthusiastic and waited calmly 
in line to vote. At voting centers with multiple voting 
stations and large numbers of registered voters, there was 
confusion over which polling station lines voters should use, 
causing frayed nerves and heightened tensions when voters 
were told they were in the wrong line after having waited 
many hours. The poor physical layout of many polling stations 
also contributed to bottlenecks when voters were forced to 
use one entrance as both an entry and exit point. Poor 
lighting in some voting centers also made it difficult for 
poll officials to identify voters, names and serial numbers 
on registration lists and slowed processing voters. However, 
these minor irregularities and difficulties will not affect 
the final outcome. 
 
POLICE MAINTAIN NEUTRALITY 
------------------------- 
¶6. (SBU) The Sierra Leone Police (SLP) received positive 
reviews for its strong neutral performance and responded well 
to polling disruptions and impatient voters despite concerns 
about its limited capacity and neutrality. There was one 
reported incident in eastern Freetown where Police fired 
warning shots and tear gas to disperse a crowd that had begun 
to threaten NEC polling officials during the counting phase. 
The Police were able to quickly bring the situation under 
control. In another reported incident, police officers 
 
FREETOWN 00000481  002 OF 002 
 
 
apparently removed Deputy Minister of Defence Joe Blell from 
a polling station when he tried to enter after the poll had 
closed and counting had begun. Embassy monitors observed the 
Police acting professionally and effectively assisting 
polling officials to inform voters where they needed to go to 
cast their votes. 
 
DEPLOYED SOLDIERS NOT ALLOWED TO VOTE 
------------------------------------- 
¶7. (SBU) On election day, about 150 soldiers deployed 
upcountry in Kenema District in the Eastern Province were not 
allowed to vote in the presidential elections. There had been 
discussions at the NEC to make an exception for soldiers 
deployed outside their voting districts to vote in the 
presidential but not parliamentary elections. However, 
apparently no decision was ever reached between the NEC and 
the Ministry of Defence after the Office of National Security 
reportedly decided shortly before election day it would allow 
soldiers to be used only sparingly to support the Police. 
 
APC AND SLPP SCRAMBLE FOR POSSIBLE SECOND ROUND 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
¶8. (SBU) With a runoff election likely, the APC and SLPP are 
busy developing strategies on how best to position their 
parties to win a simple majority in the runoff. Key to either 
party,s ability to win will be gaining the support of the 
PMDC, which did remarkably well in the Southern and Eastern 
Provinces. Both APC and SLPP party officials are reportedly 
negotiating with the PMDC leadership to gain its support. 
Interestingly, APC officials continue to express confidence 
that they can and will win the requisite 55 percent from 
Saturday,s presidential election vote. However, that looks 
unlikely. 
 
COMMENT 
-------- 
¶9. (SBU) International observers and voters agree these were 
the best elections in the history of Sierra Leone. Despite 
minor irregularities, the outcome thus far has been 
successful. Most notably, Sierra Leoneans went to the polls 
to vote on issues, not ethnically-based parties as has been 
common in the past. In 2002, it was a vote for peace. Now 
five years removed from civil war, Sierra Leoneans expect 
more from their elected officials, and many voiced complaints 
that the Government had failed them. However, despite the 
NEC,s and other international organizations, valiant 
efforts to educate voters, Embassy monitors and other 
observers witnessed instances where voters were confused by 
the process and possessed little or no knowledge of the 
political candidates, reflective of the low literacy rate in 
the country. 
 
¶10. (SBU) The stakes in a possible runoff will be 
considerably higher now that one party only has to win a 
simple majority. It is imperative that international and 
domestic observers remain vigilant to the activities of 
political parties. Observers must stay on the ground 
throughout this uncertain time, and observation teams will be 
essential in the critical runoff that looms ahead.  END 
COMMENT. 
HULL