Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07FREETOWN202
2007-03-23 16:50:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Freetown
Cable title:  

ESTIMATED TWO MILLION SIERRA LEONEANS REGISTER TO

Tags:  PGOV PREL SL 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO4083
PP RUEHPA
DE RUEHFN #0202/01 0821650
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
P 231650Z MAR 07
FM AMEMBASSY FREETOWN
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0917
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 FREETOWN 000202 

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SL
SUBJECT: ESTIMATED TWO MILLION SIERRA LEONEANS REGISTER TO
VOTE


Classified By: Ambassador Thomas N. Hull for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
-------

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 FREETOWN 000202

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/W

E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/23/2017
TAGS: PGOV PREL SL
SUBJECT: ESTIMATED TWO MILLION SIERRA LEONEANS REGISTER TO
VOTE


Classified By: Ambassador Thomas N. Hull for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).

SUMMARY
--------------


1. (U) On March 18 Sierra Leone concluded a three-week voter
registration period for the national elections to be held
July 28, 2007. Deemed a success by the United Nations
Integrated Office in Sierra Leone (UNIOSIL),preliminary
results estimate that between February 26 - March 18 nearly 2
million of approximately 2.7 million anticipated eligible
voters registered. There were isolated incidents of electoral
fraud mostly involving double or underage registration. Cases
of political intimidation by the ruling party were also
reported. However, there was no discernible pattern of fraud
or intimidation during the process.


2. (C) The three major political parties complained there was
an insufficient number of voter registration centers (VRCs)
and long distances between centers discouraged people from
registering. The parties also expressed concern about a 2,000
registration cap on VRCs. Centers that registered 2,000
people closed and referred applicants to nearby centers.
National Electoral Commission (NEC) officials explained this
was done to avoid creating mega-polling centers on election
day. Registration observers, including a delegation hosted by
the National Democratic Institute (NDI),noted that the
electoral process in Sierra Leone still faces many
challenges, including the potential for political tension,
logistical difficulties and competition for limited resources
for key institutions. It appears the Government still plans
to move forward with a constitutional referendum on election
day, which will add to the already considerable logistical
challenges. END SUMMARY.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY CALLS REGISTRATION A SUCCESS
-------------- --------------


3. (SBU) The independent National Electoral Commission (NEC)
conducted voter registration from February 26 - March 18 for
the upcoming Sierra Leone national elections on July 28.
UNIOSIL called the process a success given the considerable
technical and logistical challenges the process faced. UN and
NEC officials said that preliminary results estimated that

nearly 2 million of 2.7 million anticipated eligible voters
registered at 2,740 registration centers. Forty-seven percent
of those who registered were women, and 50 percent were below
the age of 27. In comparison, during the 2002 national
elections approximately 2.3 million Sierra Leoneans
registered at 5,278 centers over two weeks. During the
current process, there were isolated incidents of electoral
fraud, primarily involving double or underage registration,
and alleged attempts to register non-Sierra Leoneans. The
Sierra Leone Police (SLP) also reported allegations of
political intimidation by the ruling Sierra Leone People's
Party (SLPP). However, there were no discernible patterns of
systemic abuse. These cases of alleged electoral fraud are
currently under investigation.

NEC PERFORMS WELL DESPITE CONSIDERABLE CONSTRAINTS
-------------- --------------


4. (SBU) The 2007 national elections are the reconstituted
NEC's first experience organizing elections. In 2005, the NEC
underwent major changes in structure and personnel and
selected a new chairperson to revamp the organization. The
NEC receives targeted technical assistance and significant
financial support from the international community. The NEC's
performance has been encouraging despite the considerable
logistical and technical challenges it faces. UN officials
commended the NEC for its efforts to curb registration fraud
and address the many issues that arose during registration,
including underage or double registration, political parties
attempting to conduct parallel registration, fighting between
political party observers, and the difficulty of delivering
registration materials to all centers on time for the opening
of registration. The NEC also had to contend with
inaccessibility of many registration centers in remote areas
and registration officials who threatened to strike over
salary disputes. One center reportedly closed for one day
after an altercation between a deputy minister who belongs to
the ruling SLPP party and registration officials. (See par. 7)

MAIN COMPLAINTS: DISTANCE AND NUMBER OF VRCS
--------------


5. (C) During the three-week registration period, there were
steady complaints about distances people had to travel to
register. Political party leaders expressed concern that a
combination of insufficient numbers of VRCs and long

FREETOWN 00000202 002 OF 003


distances discouraged registration and fed voter apathy.
(Comment: The three major political parties disputed the NEC
and UN's claim that five to seven miles was the greatest
distance between centers. End Comment) Moreover, they said
that elderly and physically-challenged individuals were
negatively impacted. Vice President Berewa, the SLPP
presidential candidate, told the Ambassador the registration
process was not uniform because there more readily accessible
registration sites available in urban centers than in rural
areas. This perceived inequality of access gave an unfair
advantage to parties that derive political support from urban
over rural areas. Berewa also expressed concern that this
would be a critical issue on election day, particularly as
voters will have to slog to centers during the rainy season.
(Comment: This is of great concern to the SLPP which draws
much of it support from rural areas, whereas Freetown is an
opposition APC stronghold. End Comment.)


6. (C) Charles Margai, the presidential candidate for the
SLPP breakaway party, the People's Movement for Democratic
Change (PMDC),has been very critical of the NEC, both
publicly and privately. He says the NEC has no power to
enforce electoral law and is a pawn of the ruling SLPP.
During a meeting with PolOff March 22, he claimed the NEC has
ignored the numerous registration irregularities reported by
his party. He also argued that the registration period should
have been extended to account for irregularities during the
process. He expressed grave concerns about the NEC
registration officials and accused them of being SLPP
sympathizers.

ISOLATED INCIDENTS OF ELECTORAL FRAUD AND INTIMIDATION
-------------- --------------


7. (SBU) The international community's assessment of the
process was mainly positive, especially given the numerous
challenges the process faced. Election officials said that
most cases of registration fraud, primarily either underage
or double registration, were mostly a product of ignorance.
They reported there were isolated reported incidents of
political intimidation and violence. In Kenema district in
the Southern Province, there were 19 cases of electoral fraud
reported. One case involved a deputy minister who had
supporters attack registration officials after he was not
allowed to &butt in line8 to register. All were under
investigation by the SLP and four have been charged to court.

OBSERVERS ASSESS REGISTRATION
--------------


8. (SBU) The National Democratic Institute (NDI) hosted a
pre-election delegation March 12-19, funded by the UK's DFID.
This is the first of two (NDI) delegations to assess the
pre-election environment in advance of the July 28 national
elections. Comprised of experienced political and civic
leaders and elections experts from Africa, North America, the
Middle East and Asia, the delegation met with Embassy staff,
Sierra Leonean political and civic leaders, electoral
authorities, GOSL officials, and representatives of the media
and international community, including UN electoral technical
advisors assigned to the NEC. The delegation also traveled to
Bo, Bombali, and Kenema districts to observe registration
centers and meet with local political and civic leaders.


9. (SBU) The NDI delegation reported that the NEC was making
progress toward the conduct of credible elections and viewed
it as gaining credibility as an effective institution
operating independently of the GoSL. However, the NDI
delegation noted significant challenges that are emerging in
the run up to the elections. The final report cited
substantial political tension, logistical difficulties and
the limited resources which are hampering the work of key
institutions, such as the Political Parties Registration
Commission (PPRC). The delegation emphasized that the NEC
must devote more attention to and improve communications with
the political parties and the media.

WILL THERE BE A CONSTITUTIONAL REFERENDUM?
--------------


10. (SBU) In January 2007, the Government appointed a
constitutional reform committee, in line with recommendations
of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC). However,
there has been little information available concerning the
scope of their work. With only four months remaining until
the elections, observers had judged that the referendum would
not occur at the same time as the national elections.


11. (C) However, it now appears that the GoSL still plans to
hold a constitutional referendum on election day. It is still

FREETOWN 00000202 003 OF 003


not known what the scope of the referendum will be. The NEC
is trying to dissuade the Government from holding the
referendum, arguing that it would add considerable costs and
logistical difficulties to an already challenging process.
There is little time to move forward on proposed changes;
Parliament will be dissolving possibly in June, and voters
would need time to be educated on the proposed reforms. The
time for a constructive public debate in advance of a
referendum is simply running out.

COMMENT
--------------


12. (C) Overall, the international community is satisfied
with conduct of the registration process. UN officials
working with the NEC were encouraged by the high registration
numbers and the fact that nearly 47 percent were women. The
process was also relatively violence-free. However, the three
major political parties continue to voice considerable
reservations about the process. The PMDC and APC, the two
main opposition parties, have leveled numerous accusations
against the ruling SLPP and appear to be making a case that
the process is not credible in the event they lose at the
polls. While the APC appears more moderate in its willingness
to work with the NEC and PPRC, the PMDC's attitude is
worrisome. The PMDC's founder and Presidential aspirant,
Charles Margai, has consistently declared that the NEC is
totally untrustworthy, which bodes ill for how he and his
party might pursue post electoral challenges. Margai is the
son and nephew of prime ministers and arrogantly views the
presidency as his birthright. The opposition parties, claim
that Sierra Leoneans are fed up with the current
administration resonates with many voters, and the opposition
and its supporters may not accept the results as credible if
the ruling SLPP wins at the polls.


13. (C) Although the NEC has not yet announced the official
start of the campaigning season, which will most likely begin
in June, all parties are in full campaign-mode, which they
blithely refer to as "political sensitization." As we move
closer towards July, we are seeing indications that tensions
are mounting. While things may be relatively calm through the
actual elections, there is a possibility of unrest if the
parties are not happy with the announced electoral results.
END COMMENT.
HULL