The recent eruption of violence in the ongoing lower-level elections of the ruling Siera Leone People’s Party (SLPP) is a stark reminder of the fragility of intra-party democracy in the country. Reports of violent clashes, arson, and destruction of property in Mile 91, Tonkolili District, paint a disturbing picture of a party at war with itself. This is not just an SLPP problem—it is a national problem. If political parties cannot conduct their internal elections peacefully, what does this say about the prospects for national elections?
The Secretary-General of the SLPP in Tonkolili, Robert Salia Kamara, confirmed reports of violent confrontations between supporters of two main candidates vying for the District Chairmanship. Social media videos of burning houses, including the reported destruction of former Regent Chief Yusif Barrie’s residence, underscore the dangerous depths to which political competition has plunged. The absence of an official police statement and the silence from SLPP authorities in the district only add to the concerns that political violence is being tolerated, if not outright encouraged.
Elections—whether at the national or local level—should reflect the will of the people, not the might of violent actors. The initial postponement of elections in Tonkolili due to violence is an indictment of the SLPP’s failure to ensure free, fair, and peaceful electoral processes. The stakes are high. Local elections determine the next generation of political leaders, and when violence becomes a deciding factor, it delegitimizes the entire democratic process. If internal party elections are riddled with chaos and bloodshed, what should Sierra Leoneans expect in the 2028 general elections?
The accusations against Youth Minister Mohamed Orman Bangura and incumbent District Chairman Ahmed Saybom Kanu, are particularly troubling. Reports suggest that Bangura has been accompanied by armed supporters wielding cutlasses and other dangerous weapons. Whether these allegations hold up to scrutiny or not, the very presence of violence in this contest is a stain on the SLPP and the democratic credentials of its leadership.
It is the responsibility of the Peace Commission, the Political Parties Regulation Commission (PPRC), the National Electoral Commission (NEC), and law enforcement agencies to ensure that democracy prevails. The PPRC’s deployment of staff to monitor the elections is a welcome step, but it must go beyond passive observation. There must be accountability. Those who instigate and engage in political violence should be identified and prosecuted. There must be consequences for political thuggery, or else it will continue to be an accepted norm.
Sierra Leone’s democracy is at a crossroads. If political parties, especially the ruling party, cannot uphold democratic values within their own ranks, then the entire democratic system is at risk. The SLPP leadership must take decisive action to rein in violent actors within its fold. President Julius Maada Bio, as the party leader and head of state, cannot afford to remain silent. The legitimacy of his administration and the future of democratic governance in Sierra Leone depend on it.
As a nation that has endured the horrors of civil war, Sierra Leone cannot afford to normalize political violence. The burning of homes and the shedding of blood over internal party positions should serve as a wake-up call. If local elections are so violent, what should we expect in 2028? It is time for all democratic institutions to act decisively to prevent a descent into further chaos. Political violence is an existential threat to our democracy, and it must be rooted out before it consumes the entire system.