By: Hassan Osman Kargbo.
Sierra Leone is bigger than this. Our nation is highly admired across the world for its ethnic and political tolerance. Political violence doesn’t have space in our nation. We need to up our game to eradicate any form of tribal and regional conversations that will lead to political violence in Sierra Leone. The pre-elections political landscape in the country is becoming increasingly fragmented by the day and this may threaten national peace and development. Violence that normally erupted in our body polity has degenerated into a battle front for a people who are supposed to live peacefully together as brothers and sisters.
We barely have few days to the Presidential and Parliamentary elections, and it is not a secret that political tensions are all over the place. Since the 2018 election, Sierra Leoneans have witnessed several forms of political tensions, ranging from violent clashes to violence caused by youth vigilante groups and party security forces and marshals in various communities across the country. Political intimidation is everywhere and it’s impaired the progress of this nation. Sierra Leone is a country with a wide range of political parties, but two main parties stand out tall: The main opposition All People’s Congress (APC) and the ruling Sierra Leone People’s Party (SLPP). These two main political parties are known for the high-tension of political violence in the body polity of our country. These two parties since independence have dominated the political landscape in Sierra Leone. Despite the current political attachments, these two parties historically had their roots in the Northern part of the country.
So, why all these hate massages and political intimidations. People from those two political parties have decided to divide themselves into two broad camps, a way of splitting the country. Selecting the North-West for APC, and the South-East for the SLPP, which are responsible the high level of political violence in Sierra Leone.
Moreover, the Mendes and the Themnes are the two major dominant ethnic groups in Sierra Leone and they represent the two main parties; APC and SLPP. Politicians tend to allocate resources in such a manner that benefits their ethnic groups which most times lead to political unrests in the country especially prior, during and after elections. They are in the habits of fuelling tribal messages for their selfish gains.
Our politicians and their political parties use ethnic divisive messaging communications patterns to gain or maintain political power when they lack constructive and practical national development solutions for the electorate.
Unlike other democracies around the world where policies and programmes determine electoral success, our politicians often resort to tribal manipulations during electioneering.
Furthermore, the August 10, 2022, incident was as a result of high level of violence among youth. A violent protest broke out in the capital Freetown and some major towns in the Northern region. Although there were reports on social media by then about an imminent demonstration over rising cost of living in the country, almost everybody was shocked and surprised by the heinous brutality that was resulting in the gruesome deaths of six police personnel and 21 civilians coupled with the wanton destruction of public properties.
In addition, a brief retrospective account of the ugly incidences that led to the genocide in Rwanda can serve as a quick reminder to all Sierra Leoneans in both political divides; (SLPP and APC), that hate messages will not only further divide an already polarised country, but can also lead to serious consequences. The implications of the Rwanda Genocide in 1994, is a great manifestation of tribals and political biases which could be seen as a great example to stop any form of tribalism and political intimidations in our nation Sierra Leone. According to findings, social media is the inherent driving force behind all the political tensions in country.
Finally, we can still feel and see the scars the 11-year civil war has left. By now we should have learnt our lessons; and continue to pray that we do not take part in or allow anything that will divide our country ever again. Among other things, political intimidation is a cancer in any country’s development and has been eaten up the viability of peace, security and national cohesion.
So much as Saturday June 24 2023 polls is not a do or die affair, all must keep the peace of the nation and remain firmly united as great people of Sierra Leone, the land that we love.
