The Inspector General of the Sierra Leone Police William Fayia Sellu has informed the 2023 European Union (EU) Elections Observers that the role of the police is to provide security for bodies that manage electoral processes and the political parties.
He said they have been involved in every level of the process since the announcement of the date for the elections, citing the mid-term census, voter registration, the distributions of voter identity cards, primaries election of political parties’ national officials and now the campaign.
With support from development partners, the police he explained has undergone series of professional trainings, including public order management, elections and security, Human Rights, command and control which makes the Sierra Leone Police more prepared.
“As an organisation, we have built our own capacity and very sure we are position sufficiently to police this 2023 elections,” disclosed IGP Sellu.
He informed that the police are not working in isolation, but with the multiplier forces to enable them properly police the over eleven thousand (11,000) polling stations and centres across the country.
Unlike previous polls with post elections violence, Sellu expressed firm optimism that there will be no post tensions after June 24, 2023. He disclosed that there will constant engagements with political parties, community outreach and awareness raising programmes on peace and non-violence involving, traditional, religious leaders, women, and youth groups across the country.
During the campaigns, Sellu said personnel will ensure that every party coming out on the day assigned to them gives out their messages unhindered but urged that in as much as the police have the responsibility to provide security, politicians and their supporters equally have the moral obligations to make sure they conduct themselves within the ambit of the law. The issue of hate speeches was also discussed.
The EU has deployed an election observation mission to observe the elections following invite extended to the mission by the Electoral Commission for Sierra Leone and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.
The mission’s mandate is to observe all aspects of the electoral processes and assess the extent to which the elections comply with Sierra Leone’s law as well as with regional and international standards and commitments Sierra Leone has made regarding democratic elections.
The team includes the EU Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Manuel Muller, Evin Incir, Chief Observer, Inta Lase, Deputy Chief Observer, Eirini Skouzou, Legal Analyst and Yves De Wolf, Press Officer.
By Thomas Civilian Police Kambay
