Peep Sierra Leone

As per history Sierra Leone is known for violence during elections, Languba Kellie a representative from the ONS gave reasons according to their National Threat assessment why and where these threats emanate from.

According to him, violence and the high level of political intolerance amongst our political sections in the country is not good for post-conflict stabilization. One of the potential security threat areas Mr. Kellie named that will be of major focus  to them is the Political Parties Registration Commission. He said that a lot of newly formed parties go to the commission on a daily basis for registration, but to him and many others, the PPRC has got a number of criteria to meet which he feels these parties would not be able to meet as a result their supporters and members would want to voice out their vexation over such issue which sometimes turns into violence. He further went on to point out that Political Parties nomination is another serious threat to security. By this he explained that when politicians who do not command the majority support of their parties' members are put or nominated to lead these parties, their supporters normally so on to commit violence in order to seek redress or their aggrieved voices be heard. He also pointed out the areas of voters registration which will be last for 60 (sixty) days, campaigns during elections, polling days as potential threats for security in the country, but added that violence does not occur during these period, he also pointed out that we need about 17, 000 Police, to Police the country during these times, but also stated that the police is clamoring for 12, 000 men and women to be recruited for an implementation in the country. Begging for financial assistance, Mr. Kellie expressed dissatisfaction over the use of ex-combatants as police and thugs by politicians to wreak violence. He stated that they have commenced monthly meetings with donor partners for funds to implement their security strategies to avert violence during election time. While stating their 'pitiful mood' in their lack of funds to execute their duties, Mr. Kellie said that their institution will be using 300 Military Police as auxiliary to the police and their trucks to transport sensitive electoral materials.