CARL-SL Calls for Unity in Tripartite Committee Actions
By: Theresa Thomas
CARL-SL, backed by the Open Society Foundation, recently concluded a series of nationwide stakeholder engagements in Bo, Kenema, Makeni, and Port Loko. These sessions aimed to review the progress of the Tripartite Committee—a collaborative effort involving Sierra Leone’s government, opposition parties like the APC, and international partners—to address electoral challenges following the disputed 2023 elections.
The engagements culminated in a press briefing held on July 4, 2024, at CARL-SL’s Circular Road office in Freetown. Jeremy Ben Simbo, CARL-SL’s Head of Programs, highlighted key insights gleaned from the sessions. He emphasized that while there was widespread support for the Committee’s objectives of enhancing electoral credibility, significant gaps in public awareness and committee representation were identified, leading to misconceptions.
Simbo stressed stakeholders’ calls for broader inclusivity and transparent processes in the Committee’s operations, reflecting hopes for a comprehensive constitutional review to fortify electoral systems. Notably, the Committee’s recently submitted report, comprising 80 recommendations, seeks to foster an environment conducive to free, fair, and accountable elections.
Looking forward, CARL-SL urged unified action among stakeholders—including the government, opposition parties, and civic groups—to implement these recommendations diligently. This cooperative effort, Simbo underscored, is crucial for safeguarding the integrity of Sierra Leone’s electoral processes and promoting national cohesion.
The engagement’s outcomes underscored a collective commitment to navigating electoral challenges through collaborative governance and inclusive decision-making, laying a foundation for more robust democratic practices in Sierra Leone.
