By: Sulaiman Stom Koroma.
The year 2023 for some has proven to be a turbulent one while for others a sweet landing for Sierra Leone, with significant events impacting the nation’s political landscape, economic stability, and security. From contested elections to, a security breach, the opening of a new airport, Bo Rangers winning the Premier League back-to-back, and rising living costs, the resilience of the people, shows.
In June 2023, the country held its general elections. This was a showpiece that was always going to produce a fascinating result. It was a rematch featuring the incumbent president Bio and opposition leader Samura Kamara. These men pulled out a glamorous ballot box fight in 2018, forcing the first rounds to an extra time, In the end, it was a narrow win for then-opposition candidate Julius Maada Bio. It was this same 2018 team of Samura Kamara and Chernor Bah that President Bio will lock hones with in 2023. For the second time, it was a victory for the incumbent government. However, the opposition party raised concerns about alleged irregularities, casting doubt on the credibility of the electoral process. They vehemently condemn the results, asking both their members of parliament and councilors to boycott seatings, requesting for a recount of the votes and that fresh elections should be held in six months, ordering the electoral commission to resign and a list of other demands were made. Although most of those demands were not met, a committee was set up to look into electoral reforms and other issues highlighted by the opposition.
Football undoubtedly took the minds of many Sierra Leoneans, with the Leone Stars’ performance at the Africa Cup of Nations and the premier league standing its ground, it was a lifeblood injected into the hearts of local fans. The 2023 Sierra Leone Premier League ended with Bo Rangers not only winning the league but doing it in an outstanding style as they were officially crowned champions of the Sierra Leone Premier League at Southern Arena in Bo. After an impressive 3-0 victory over Bai Bureh Warriors in the final match, securing an astonishing 80 points from 34 matches and had a 19-point lead over second-placed Blackpool with 61 points. Although little is heard about the Female league, its resurrection in 2023 proved to be a stunner with Mogbewmo Queens winning the first female Premier League. An outstanding year for provincial teams.
In a slowing-down episode that sent shockwaves through the rushing city of Freetown, residents awoke to the noisy echoes of gunshots reverberating through the morning air. The peace and tranquillity that usually accompanied the dawn hours were shattered as an unprecedented security breach unfolded at a local army barracks at Wilberforce. What initially seemed like a routine disturbance quickly escalated into a full-blown crisis, catching the residents off guard and plunging the city into a state of uncertainty. The mere notion of a security breach was later confirmed as a coup attempt on their doorstep was unimaginable not in the very heart of their city. The state CID is currently investigating more than 80 people including the former president who the government says may have an involved in the attempted coup, more people are been arrested and an updated list of wanted people has also been issued with the daughter of the former president, current and past security of the former president on it. Such incidents undermine national security and erode public confidence, necessitating swift action from the authorities to investigate, prosecute, and enhance security measures. Collaboration between security forces, intelligence agencies, and community engagement will be pivotal to preventing future threats and maintaining peace.
On March 25th of this year, the president commissioned a new Airport as a key component of Freetown International Airport’s revival, the new $270 million building experts say is three times larger than the current terminal and has the potential to handle up to one million passengers annually, five times the current maximum. The new 14,000 square meter complex, which can accommodate eight widebody passenger planes at once, they say, is the first entirely green airport terminal in West Africa and is powered by a 1.5 MW (megawatt) solar farm. Summa, a Turkish construction business, constructed the new terminal. As per the agreement with the government of Sierra Leone, Summa will now run the plant for 25 years.
The year 2023 also witnessed challenges related to the high cost of living and a rise in commodity prices. Regular market comparison costs done by the opposition party NGC, show regular increments in the price of essential food stuff and commodities. These factors strain the livelihoods of ordinary citizens, exacerbating economic hardships- low wages and a high-priced market, how would the poor feed their little boys and girls, when you cannot carry water in a basket? It’s clear in our situation that hunger makes the need for satisfaction so hard to resist. And if they should raise the minimum wage, we would also see taxes rise. So, to mitigate these issues, the government should prioritize strategies such as promoting agricultural productivity, which is gradually taking shape as the President launched the presidential council for delivering the ‘Feed Salone’ initiative. The formation of the council is per President Bio’s declaration that agriculture and food security are his second term’s foremost priorities fostering job creation, and implementing social safety nets to alleviate the burden on vulnerable populations.
Honorary Mentions:
-Chief Justice going on leave- the Sierra Leone that I know, voluntary or compulsory leave- Never Return (NR)
-The student loan scheme that President Bio promised during the campaign came into practice on October 31
-In 2023, President Bio signed the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Bill known as GEWE ACT 2022.
– Parliament has more women representation in its history
– Buya Turay’s end-of-year drama with wife.
As Sierra Leone navigates the complexities of 2023, addressing the concerns surrounding contested elections, reinforcing security measures, and mitigating the impact of rising living costs are vital for national stability and progress. By embracing transparency, engaging in dialogue, and implementing sustainable policies, Sierra Leone can overcome these challenges and pave the way for a brighter future. Next Year will be a litmus test for this West African nation, with inflation, hardship, and high cost of living troubling its citizens, coupled with the post-election peace deal recommendations between the government and the main opposition which is hung at a balance, and now the former president under house arrest, plus his daughter and other people on a wanted list, and the court of appeal’s rulings demanding the former president and the flagbearer of the opposition to refund billions of Leones and the silence of many Sierra Leoneans- it’s a long walk on a slippery floor.