20 February 2007

On 20 February 2007 the Peacebuilding Commission Working Group on Lessons Learned convened the First Lessons Learned Meeting on Sierra Leone: Peacebuilding, Elections, and Risk Reduction in Post-Conflict Context. This informal meeting focused on the peacebuilding lessons and good practices on governance issues central to Sierra Leone’s development and peacebuilding goals.1 This meeting offers an opportunity to develop forward-looking lessons and recommendations for Sierra Leone’s second post-conflict presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for 28 July 2007.

Risks and Concerns for the Election in Sierra Leone
The risks to the Sierra Leone elections are considerable, as they are in any post-conflict state. The most prevalent issues are:

• Polarization of Politics and Renewal of Former Grievances
• Reactions of the Competing Political Parties to the Election Outcome
• Economic, Social and Political Spoilers
• Role of the Media
• Frustrations of the Youth and other Disadvantaged Groups
• Perceptions/Expectations of Unfair Play
• Undue Influence of Regional/International actors
• Possible Regime Change
• Security and Logistical Issues

Sierra Leone officials, as well as the United Nations Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) are concerned that pre-electoral risks will negate all possible outcomes of the elections and signal a return of the conflict. Specifically, these pre-electoral threats include economic, social, and political spoilers (specifically former combatants and “cultural groups”), frustrations of the youth and disadvantaged groups, and the role of the media. The concern is that the political parties will manipulate these groups in a negative manner which could lead to the use of violence as a means of expressing their political views rather than the use of the ballot. Should violence be avoided prior to election day, there are still several risks surrounding the outcome of the election.

Of these risks, the most prevalent is the possible regime change following the election. Should the opposition win the election, the vital issue will be the acceptance of this decision by the incumbent government. The transition of power in post-conflict states is the true test to the effectiveness of democracy. Should the incumbency loose the election and relinquish power willingly, Sierra Leone will have taken the first concrete step toward sustainable peace. If, however, the incumbent government should loose the election and refuse to transition power to the opposition, the political environment in Sierra Leone could quickly polarize, integrating past grievances into current politics jeopardizing the stability achieved thus far. With the very peace of Sierra Leone at stake, country officials are taking several steps to ensure that these risks are minimized as much as possible.

Importance of Successful Post Conflict Elections
From a peacebuilding perspective, the period leading up to and following elections in post-conflict societies invariably generates high risks. It is important to understand and avoid risks in Sierra Leone’s democratic transition and support the full implementation of the recommendations of the Peace Consolidation Strategy.

Sierra Leone’s second elections following the conflict represent a return to normalcy for the country’s political environment. During the first round of elections in post-conflict countries, the people are voting to end the conflict and in favor of peace. However, the upcoming elections in Sierra Leone are focusing on important social issues such as jobs, social policy, and corruption. The debate of these so called normal issues demonstrates that Sierra Leone is transitioning from a post-conflict state to a sustainable peace.

Just as a successful election in Sierra Leone would signify a return to a peaceful society, a failed election could very well bring about a renewal of the conflict or manifest an entirely new and separate conflict. As such, Sierra Leone must be conscious of the risks surrounding the electoral process and take all necessary precautions to ensure the reduction of these risks.

Risk Reducing Steps Currently Employed by Sierra Leone
With so much at stake concerning the July elections, Sierra Leone’s government is being very conscious to employ as many safety measures to ensure that the elections are a success. Sierra Leone has established the National Election Committee (NEC), a newly formed national body aimed at ensuring the elections operate smoothly. Several sectors of the national government are confident that the NEC will be able to conduct the elections well therefore ensuring the continued peace in Sierra Leone.

The NEC has been put in place to ensure the logistical issues of the election are handled well. All security operations surrounding the elections will be conducted by the Office of National Security to eliminate any discrepancies concerning security logistics. The security of the elections will also be tested as formerly the United Nations Mission to Sierra Leone conducted all security measures.

In terms of the media risk, Sierra Leone has taken large strides in the area of freedom of speech. The media today is generally free with marginal censorship concerning certain political sensitivities. The government of Sierra Leone has instituted a Media Code of Conduct to ensure the safety of the elections as well as the success of the confidence building measures.

Additionally, Sierra Leone officials have stressed the importance of upholding the recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliations Council (TRC). Its recommendations are important as there are residual issues that must be addressed to prevent the political parties from using the elections as a forum to discuss them. While emphasizing past steps and implementing new ones to ensure the success of the election are positive steps, there are still many measures Sierra Leone should explore to further reduce the risks surrounding the July elections.

Further Measures to be Implemented
In any post-conflict peacebuilding effort, there are development procedures known as Confidence Building Measures. These are steps taken following a conflict and in the political rebuilding process to prevent the return to conflict.

Confidence Building Measures pertinent to the case of Sierra Leone include establishing a continuous dialogue between both the political parties and the election administration. Such dialogue increases the chances of legitimacy as both parties are more likely to accept the outcome of the elections if they have both played a role in ensuring that they run smoothly. An established party code of conduct should ensure that a losing candidate will concede power. This confidence building measure is firmly rooted in Sierra Leone, as the country has a long history of political parties, political party building, or encouraging groups to create and maintain political parties rather than using para-military means to express political views.

Further Confidence Building Measures include an increased focus on social issues during political debates, a measure which shifts the election away from a post-conflict environment toward normalcy. There should be encouraged debate among the parties concerning the issues at hand; post-conflict states should not worry that debate concerning electoral issues will lead to conflict and therefore censure such talks. In addition, the government should work towards including diasporas, former combatants, and the potentially problematic youth in the political process. This reinforces the message that competition is healthy and acceptable in politics, and promotes inclusion of all citizens in the process.

There are also several policies and bodies specific to the case of Sierra Leone that should be implemented to ensure the success of the electoral process. The government should establish a National Human Rights Council to field some of the grievances related to conflict. The current government should also look into creating a decentralization policy, public procurement policy and restructuring the NEC to ensure a stable environment prior to the election. Following the election, there should be laws concerning political parties, framework law and electoral law. These measures are to ensure that technical issues immediately following the outcome of an election will not jeopardize the peace.

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Prepared by Ashley Hatchel

• 1. Outlined in the Peace Consolidation Strategy as well as the Poverty Reduction Strategy