AYV News, June 19, 2023

The Office of National Security (ONS), the Sierra Leone Police, the National Fire Force and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF), have updates local and international media on their preparedness for the June 2023 elections and also on several critical issues they will deal with before, during and after the elections.
The National Security Coordinator (NSCord), Abdulai Caulker, on behalf of the security sector said: “The Security Sector has the constitutional responsibility to ensure the peace and security of Sierra Leone, and to protect lives and property. An adjunct to this strategic responsibility is to provide the conducive environment for the holding of democratic elections.
“This is a responsibility that the sector has always carried out with professionalism and immense success, leading to the peaceful conduct of four democratic elections in the country between 2002 and 2018, accompanied with smooth and peaceful transfer of political power.
“And so, the Saturday 24th June, 2023 elections will not be radically different from previous general elections, and we will not reinvent the will. In line with our mandate, we have undertaken a number of activities in order to get ourselves adequately prepared for the June 24th 2023 elections.
“We have reactivated the Integrated Election Security Planning Committee (IESPC) to ensure a focused coordination of the efforts of Elections Management Bodies (EMBs), support security sector planning and actions through development of appropriate strategies, and mobilize requisite funding support for the Security Sector to cover the elections.
“About one and a half years ago, we conducted a National Threat Assessment/District Risk Mapping leading to the development of three strategic documents pertinent to the effective and efficient management of the elections. These include: Elections Security Strategy, Elections Communications Strategy and Elections Training Manual, all of which are now being implemented.
“In respect of the elections training manual in particular, which deals with election security ethical issues such as professionalism, impartiality, adherence to rule of law and human rights principles, etc. for senior security personnel, a Training of Trainers (ToTs) roundtables were held all over the country. These in turn were replicated to hundreds of junior security personnel that are participating in the elections.
“We have also reactivated the National Situation Room (NSR) to support the Security Sector Early Warning and Early Response Mechanism relating to the electoral process and related national security issues. The NSR has a Toll-Free Line of 119 accessible by all mobile networks in the country, and the public can call this number to report any election security related concerns.
“The National Joint Operation Centre (NJOC), the Incident Command Centres (ICCs) and the Forward Control Points (FCPs) have all been reactivated to plan, coordinate and execute elections security operations both at the national and regional levels of the country”.
Mr. Caulker informed that they recognise that election is a civil process, and so it is not their plan to over securitise it. As a result, he went on, security for the elections will be predominantly provided by the SLP supported by other auxiliary forces, adding that however, the RSLAF is supporting the SLP under the Miliary Aid to Civil Power (MACP) policy.
He said: “You can now see that the Security Sector is adequately prepared to provide security for the upcoming elections. The public should rest assured that the Security Sector will remain professional and impartial in the execution of its duties and every political party will be treated fairly in line with our respective mandates and codes of conduct”.
The NSCord informed further that social media has become one of the greatest threats to national security today, adding that there is no denying of the fact that social media platforms have been largely misused to circulate misinformation, lies, tribal bigotry, hate speech, invectives and all manner of incendiary messages, especially the WhatsApp.
He said divisive and ethnic messages expressed through the social media have proved very unhelpful for national unity ad cohesion, while noting the second threat as lawlessness and indiscipline.
The NSCord said these are mainly exhibited by acts of disobedience to the laws of the land and state institutions, wanton violence, drug peddling and abuse and other forms of criminality.
He said another key threat is political intolerance which according to him has led to unnecessary tension in the country undermining national security and the integrity of the elections.
“Assessment indicates that most of the violent confrontations between political party supporters stem from their inability to accommodate one another. I am expressing concern about the disturbing assertion by some members of the public and political parties that some security sector member institutions are bias, impartial and vindictive in the discharge of their functions.
“Whilst such assertions could be said to be based on perception and figments of the imagination, they can be demotivating to sincere and hardworking members of the security sector.
“I would like to clearly state that the operations of the security sector are guided by prudence, integrity and professionalism. The security sector is not a political party and has always tried to remain neutral, and not to be influenced by external factors to make it act outside the law.” Mr. Caulker stated.
He encouraged all to support the work of the Security Sector and the EMBs so that they will deliver on their respective mandates to get a peaceful and credible electoral outcome on 24th June, 2023.
“That way, we would have once more vindicated Sierra Leone honorably for the fifth time in our democratic dispensation after the civil war. To the Security Sector family, I encourage all of us to remain strong and steadfast in protecting our country,” he concluded.