By NIGHTWATCH Newspaper in Sierra Leone
Doubt about whether the Tripartite Committee will end its mandate exactly in June, this year still filters through the public owing to worries expressed by APC (All Peopleโs Congress) reps.
The Tripartite Committee also known as the Election Investigation Committee was set up to look into June 24, 2023 elections and proffer recommendations to government for proper electoral reforms.
KAIFALA MARAH
Its mandate, according to a communiquรฉ signed by the ruling Sierra Leone Peopleโs Party (SLPP) and the main opposition, All Peopleโs Congress (APC) in October, last year, should last for six months starting from the day of its launching.
Co-Chair, Dr Kaifala Marrah recently expressed doubt that whether the committee will end work in June, this year while another Senior APC politician, Dr Richard Conteh said the committeeโs work would not go beyond June, the stipulated time.
Dr Kaifala Marrah also expressed similar doubt in November last year when government representatives failed to show up at the committee to start work.
However, government officials blamed their absence on the November 26 shoot-outs which plunged the city into fear and panic.
It took weeks before real work commenced most likely owing to local and international pressure. The Committee was launched by President Julius Maada Bio in few days after its signing and its mandate initially should last in April, last year, but delays dragged its work to this day. Instead of April, it is now June, but worries and concerns still loom.
Co-chair, Dr Kaifala Marrah recently voiced out doubt about whether the committee would accomplish its mission in June, this year owing to the snail pace at which the work is being carried out.
The senior APC politicianโs fear is genuine as government made little or no financial or moral support to the committee raising questions about its commitment to the process.
The committee, for two months, ย started no work not until the United States offered $1.5m to boost its work as it is the only way out for Sierra Leone.
Currently, according to news reports, the committee now has a functioning secretariat and election experts are already in to hit the ground running, but with 74 more days to go.
Governmentโs delay tactics also crystalised in a ceremony to endorse the terms of reference at the New Brookfields hotel in Freetown few moths ago.
Dr Marrah had hit hot with one of the presidential advisors, Dr Gaima who was blunt to say there would be no election until 2028, a statement that left many questions than answers. It also renders the committeeโs work funny and farcical as the statement implies that there should be no probe at all.
Dr Gaima is also a co-chair at the Tripartite Committee representing governmentโs interest and strongly opposes a rerun election.
In subtle but strong and cool response, Dr Marrah made it clear that the committee would not hesitate to recommend a rerun election if significant irregularities are discovered.
Controversies within and outside APC over the committeeโs work and timeline is one of the main factors derailing its work. According to credible sources, government does not want the election to be looked into owing to fear of letting the cat out of the bag.
They could do everything within their power to take the work backwards except that the international community (the Unites States, United Kingdom, the United Nations, African Union and Economic Community Of West African States) step in to see that the right thing is done.
As if concerned about the slow work of the Tripartite Committee, US and UK diplomats urged government not to snub the committee as a result of the security threats and panic that followed the November attacks.
On the opposite front, Dr Richard Conteh has been quoted saying that โthe Tripartite Committee will not go beyond June, this year.โ
What prompted the contrary view remains unknown, but political commentators and analysts have viewed Contehโs statements as one that assures the people of Sierra Leone.
For many Sierra Leoneans, the Tripartite Committee is their last hope since its recommendations would be a make or break for the country. The people hold their peace since the outcome is not yet known.
Nonetheless, top APC politicians as well as low cadre members and supporters of APC remain deeply concerned over opposing statements by the two members of the Tripartite Committee seeing it as a lack of commitment and protection of their partyโs interest.
Initially, most APC members were confident that the recommendations would favour the party especially the hope for fresh elections.
However, the play on words by the two key Tripartite Committee members is slowly dashing such hope as all should speak with one voice when it comes to matters that generally affect the partyโs interest especially one that has to do with the election probe.
APC grassroot members who recently spoke to this press said they were disappointed with the manner in which the struggle to bring back stolen votes is being carried out.
They are of the view that by this time, if the APC members mean business, the committee should have ended it work and move on.
An APC grassroot supporter, Mohamed Kamara, resident of Calaba Town, East of Freetown, told Nightwatch that he and most of his colleagues had stopped going to APC โAtaya basesโ as the party authorities seem to be in deep slumber while PAOPA government holds and exercises a stolen mandate.
โFor now, I have no interest in going to any Ataya base as the party has disappointed us for not doing enough to bring back our votes,โ Kamara told this press in a sad mood. He went on to state that he did not expect the election probe to drag on to this moment especially when he was informed that there was no winner in the June polls.
The once congested APC Ataya Base known as Base One is now empty as only few APC youth visit the centre to spend the day, and keep it a bit busy. Even music is played in low tone and sometimes no music at all as listeners are just few.
Traders and hawkers who usually visit the centre for commercial purposes are no longer there as buyers are just few. The centre is no longerย ย commercially viable.
The base used to be a platform for interaction and sharing of political information, ideas and opinions showing the beauty of politics.
But, it is now a shadow of its glorious former self as the snub by the APC youth continues unabated.
Situation is also the same for the other APC โAtaya Baseโ at Mamboreh Junction in eastern Freetown not far from Base One. The Mamaboreh base used to be a deeply crowdedย one as youth from various communities come in to discuss issues bordering on politics and the economy, but now a white elephant except few traders who sit and wait for few customers.
It is an extremely difficult situation for the APC youth especially those who have been hit hard by the growing economic challenges of the city. It is also reported that most have returned to the provinces waiting to come back when democracy is restored.
Those who remain in the city also are jittery and fearful about what would come next at any time to delay the committeeโs work citing the November attacks and the recent declaration of the state of emergency. Freetown residents woke up to a heavy gunfire the day before the committee was to start its work.
The assailants, according to Information Minister, overran police and military armouries and looting arms and ammunition thus creating another tense security situation in the city. The attacks also affected the committeeโs work.
Recently, the President declared a public health emergency in response to โKushโ threat which, according to government records, has taken a huge death toll among Sierra Leonean youth.
However, there are no rules and regulations at the moment, but the people are still trying to figure out what would be the emergencyโs impact on the Tripartite Committee.
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