Sierra Leone: new President promises inclusive government

The new government of President Maada is expected to reflect all the aspects of Sierra Leone

The decision to establish an inclusive government comes barely days after President Julius Maada Bio appointed ten (10) men and two (2) women in a transitional team and whose first task will be to “interface” between the new team and that of the outgoing President, Ernest Bai Koroma.

The new president of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), of the Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), who won the recent presidential election has appealed to the rival he defeated at the re-run to drop all legal challenges against the result and work with him in the new government.

Sierra Leone Peoples Party (SLPP), spokesman Alie Kabba declared that the president had a very warm conversation his main challenger, former ruling party candidate, Samura Kamara of the All Peoples Congress (APC) and the two are to meet in the days ahead to strike a deal.

Mr. Alie Kabba added that “the SLPP won the elections and will form a strong inclusive government that will reflect all the aspects of Sierra Leone” refusing to say whether Minister would come from all the other political parties or just from the two that took part in the election re-run.

President Bio was declared winner with 51.81% of the votes to 48.19% to his main challenger Samura Kamara.

Why an inclusive government is important.

The first fact to back a possible inclusive government in Sierra Leone is that the SLPP had a Presidential win but a Parliamentary loss.

For Mr Maada to govern well, it is imperative for him to bring in scribes of the All Peoples Congress which secured a parliamentary majority in the recent general elections.

The next reason is the fact that the election results are been challenged in court by the former ruling party candidate Samura Kamara who said the vote was marred by fraud.

Another reason is for the interest of the population who only demands to be governed accordingly.

An inclusive government is not a new issue in Sierra Leone. During the reign of President Ernerst Bai Koroma, even the United Nations precisely in 2013 demanded for an inclusive government.

Worth noting is the fact that the two candidates at the re-run had worked together and recent reports show that they are willing to work together again for the interest of the country.

The race to replace Mr. Koroma was relatively peaceful.