Lower turnout reported amid tight security in election that had been delayed by legal challenge

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Polls have opened in Sierra Leone’s runoff presidential election. The opposition called the court challenge a delaying tactic and its candidate Julius Maada Bio, a former military leader, accused President Ernest Bai Koroma and the ruling party of "pushing us to the point of chaos in the country." Politics in the West African country of over seven million people has been dominated by two parties since independence from Britain in 1961: the ruling All People’s Congress, now fielding ex-foreign minister Samura Kamara, and the Sierra Leone People’s Party behind Julius Maada Bio, who briefly ruled as head of a military junta in 1996. Voting got under way early in peaceful conditions, according to witnesses, though staff at two polling stations said turnout appeared to be lower than in the first round. The runoff vote had been set for Tuesday, but was delayed after a ruling party member filed a court challenge alleging irregularities in the first round and a temporary injunction was issued, stalling preparations.
The second round of a general election begins in Sierra Leone with a tight race expected between the People's Party and the All People's Congress. Incumbent President Ernest Bai Koroma is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term in office.