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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Commonwealth team to observe run-off presidential poll in Sierra Leone

14 March 1996

A four-member team from the Commonwealth Secretariat is to observe the second round of the presidential elections in Sierra Leone, scheduled for Friday, 15 March. The Secretariat team, led by Dr Moses Anafu, Assistant Director of the Political Affairs Division, arrived in Freetown yesterday (13 March).

The second round involves a run-off between the top two presidential candidates from the first round of voting, held on 26-27 February. In that round no candidate received 55 per cent of the votes needed for an outright victory. The February poll covered both presidential and parliamentary elections and was observed by an 18-member Commonwealth Observer Group. The group said after the voting that despite considerable difficulties, the people of Sierra Leone had demonstrated their determination to have elections and were able to ensure these were held.

Commonwealth Secretary-General Chief Emeka Anyaoku said today that he hoped the second round of elections would take place peacefully.

"The people of Sierra Leone stand on the threshold of a new democratic order. Their friends around the Commonwealth sincerely hope that the electoral process will be successfully completed and that the fruits of democracy will include peace, stability and socio-economic progress," Chief Anyaoku said. "The Commonwealth has worked to assist the transition in Sierra Leone and will continue to strive to help in the consolidation of that transition once it is formally completed."

 

96/10 14 March 1996

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ISSUED BY THE COMMUNICATIONS AND PUBLIC AFFAIRS DIVISION
Commonwealth Secretariat Marlborough House Pall Mall London SW1Y 5HX United Kingdom
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Email: info@commonwealth.int