Sierra Leone's President Secures Controversial Re-election

Sierra Leone's incumbent president, Julius Maada Bio, has been declared the winner of the presidential election with 56% of the votes, narrowly avoiding a run-off. However, opposition candidate Samura Kamara and civil-society organizations have raised concerns about the legitimacy of the results, citing evidence of violence, discrepancies in voter turnout, and potential voter fraud. Sierra Leone, once seen as a success story for its peaceful transfers of power, now faces the risk of donor aid withdrawal and potential clashes amid opposition protests.