Sierra Leone sets the example

The presidential and parliamentary elections in Sierra Leone saw a high participation by the people of this war-torn country and a total absence of violence, bringing praise from the United nations organisation.

Oluyeni Adeniji, the Nigerian UN special envoy for Sierra Leone, has praised the “exemplary” behaviour of the Sierra Leone citizens during the election process on Tuesday, which put an end to a decade of civil war which began in 1991 when the United Revolutionary Front launched their campaign against the central authorities.

“The behaviour of the voters, the people of Sierra Leone, was exemplary”, he declared in Freetown, the capital. However, the 17,500 UN blue beret peace-keepers are expected to stay on in Sierra Leone for some time.

Although the final count has not yet been made, it is probable that President Ahmad Tejan Kabbah will be re-elected, even if he does not get the necessary 55% of votes in the first round.

Timothy BANCROFT-HINCHEY PRAVDA.Ru