President Tejan Kabba to Step Down

As the countdown to the presidential elections in Sierra Leone diminishes to days, President Ahmed Tejan Kabba is expected to step down to give way to a successor, in accordance with the provision of that country’s constitution. In a region famed for tenure elongation through the manipulation or attempted manipulation of constitutions by rulers, President Kabba’s treatment of the particular constitutional provision is being awaited by keen political observers with both expectation and apprehension, not least because the latter part of his administration comes against the backdrop of a brutal civil war.

Meanwhile impeccable sources have disclosed that the Cabinet has been dissolved, apparently as sign of impending changes.

Some political analysts are of the view that if President Kabba, who has already ruled for two five-year terms, lives to the expectations of promoting good governance, he would be leaving a lot of good examples, probably to the chagrin of the opposition.
This year’s election in that country was earlier on scheduled for July only to be postponed to August 10th.

According to the Electoral Commissioner, Christian Thorpe, they had to reschedule the elections so as to allow for the completion of modalities before going to the polls.
Meanwhile, the preparations for the election are said to have gained momentum. The All Peoples Congress party (APC) seeks to be given another mandate after they had earlier ruled the country in a manner indicted by many.

The supporters of the ruling SLPP Party are reported to have come under attack in Kono District by APC stalwarts, resulting in two serious injuries. Charles F. Margai’s party, MFDC, which broke away from the SLPP, is also said to be bent on unseating the SLPP.

Mr. Margai has blamed the SLPP for not doing well for the country. His supporters are said to have on several occasions attacked SLPP supporters.