Freetown, Sierra Leone — Almost two and a half million Sierra Leoneans were eligible to vote in Tuesday's elections presidential and parliamentary elections, and it appears that the majority have gone to the polls enthusiastically. Long lines formed early at polling stations in the capital, Freetown, with reports of similar queues elsewhere in a country that is emerging from ten years of civil war.
Organisational problems meant a late start in some areas, but voters waited patiently in a joyful and buoyant, happy atmosphere, despite minor scuffles and heated arguments after contradictory instructions were given to some potential voters.
Sierra Leone's incumbent president, Ahmad Tejan Kabbah, 70, is facing a challenge for the top job from eight other candidates. The successful presidential candidate must receive 55 percent of vote to win outright in the first round, failing which a run-off will be held in two weeks between the two leading contenders.
Voters will also select 112 members of parliament. The competing political parties need to win at least 12.5 percent of the votes to gain parliamentary representation.
Sierra Leoneans say they hope the ballot will triumph over the bullet and that former rebels have laid down their weapons for good, after terrorising the country for more than 10 years. Apart from guns, the rival factions used machetes and knives to mutilate their fellow citizens, chopping off their limbs to stop them from "voting for democracy". Many of the amputees lined up at a camp where they live in Freetown to cast their ballot.
Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters
Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox
The former rebel Revolutionary United Front, now transformed into a political party, is among those participating in the polls. The RUFP's presidential candidate Pallo Bangura, and other party leaders, have pledged that his fighters had disarmed for good.
But many of the young RUFP supporters are restless and resent the continued imprisonment of the historic RUF leader, Foday Sankoh. He was jailed on murder charges and may face prosecution before a special war court being set up by the Sierra Leone and the United Nations.
Some of the amputees voting on Tuesday were prepared to forgive their attackers. Many other victims felt the rebels were shameless to ask voters forgiveness and reconciliation and should not be standing in the election.
On Monday, United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan sent a message of warm congratulations to Sierra Leone, its government and the 17,500-strong UN peacekeeping force that is helping to ensure security. Annan called on Sierra Leoneans to vote in a "spirit of peace and tolerance".
The UN mission in Sierra Leone, Unamsil, is the global body's number one peacekeeping operation in the world.
